BharatNotes SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation)
A regional intergovernmental organisation of eight South Asian nations (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka) established to promote economic cooperation, cultural development, and regional peace.
Context & Background
Established Dhaka Charter signed 8 December 1985; headquartered in Kathmandu; last (18th) Summit held Kathmandu November 2014; 19th Summit (scheduled Islamabad, November 2016) cancelled after India boycotted following Uri attack; no summit held as of April 2026 — over a decade gap.
UPSC Exam Relevance
8 members (Afghanistan activities suspended post-Taliban takeover); SAFTA (2006); effectively defunct — no summit in 10+ years; India prefers BIMSTEC; Bangladesh and Pakistan called for revival in 2025 but India remains cool given cross-border terrorism concerns.
