SAARC
About
- The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is a regional intergovernmental organization established with the signing of the SAARC Charter in Dhaka in 1985.
- Initially founded with 7 members, SAARC now comprises eight Member States: Afghanistan (joined in 2007), Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
- There are nine observers namely Australia, China, EU, Iran, Japan, Korea, Mauritius, Myanmar and USA.
- The main objective of the Association include promotion of welfare of the peoples of South Asia and to improve their quality of life.
- Decisions at all levels are to be taken on the basis of unanimity; and bilateral and contentious issues are excluded from the deliberations of the Association.
- The Secretariat of the Association is located in Kathmandu, Nepal.
- Note: SAARC has been dormant and has not held a formal summit since 2014, in keeping with India’s position of refusing to engage with Pakistan over its support for terrorism.