SAARC: Window of regional co-operation

Whether ‘neighbour’ is an innate compulsion or a well-wisher, the aphorism of ‘cooperation not confrontation’ is the basic condition of peaceful co-existence. With the objective of seeking regional cooperation South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation was fashioned to bring the warmth of commonality and bridge the void of differences among various nations of the region. It is a platform where they can actually talk on concrete issues and solve them amicably. South Asia is a quotable example where the likes of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal co-exist with ‘n’ number of disputes from one another. Embracing the strategy of dialogue or talks, this regional association was formed on the footsteps of UN and the Non-Aligned Movement. It was established with the purpose of promoting peace, stability, amity and progress through dialogue. SAARC is the only regional organization for underlying problems in South Asia. It is the largest (by population) regional organization in the world covering a population of nearly 1.47 billion.

Origin

Like other international organizations SAARC’s basic objective is to maintain peace, stability, amity and progress in the close environ. It is a collective effort of seven South Asian countries viz India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal and Pakistan. The idea of such an association was first cultivated in the late 1970s. It was proposed as South Asian trade-bloc by Ziaur Rehman, then President of Bangladesh. In 1981, the proposed design of the association by Bangladesh was accepted during a meeting held in Colombo by India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka which became its founder members. Later in New Delhi, a declaration of South Asian cooperation was adopted in August 1983. The seven South Asian countries agreed on the five areas of cooperation:

Agriculture and rural development

Telecommunications, science, technology and meteorology

Health and population activities

Transport

Human Resource Development

Working

The Association serves as a platform for South Asians to work together in order to promote the sense of friendship, trust and understanding. It works on the condition of respect for the principles of sovereign equality, territorial integrity, national independence, non-use of force and non-interference in the internal affairs of other states and peaceful settlement of all disputes.

Every issue taken is solved with discussion and dialogue and no decision can be taken or resolution can be passed without the consent of a single member country. Though bilateral issues of two states are not included as a subject of discussion but the association does extend regional cooperation that accelerates bilateral and multilateral relations of SAARC member states.