South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation: Difference between revisions

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   |title = {{resize|125%|South Asian Association <br />for Regional Cooperation}}

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     | rowclass7 = mergedrow| label7 = [[Nepali language|Nepali]]: | data7 = {{lang|ne|दक्षिण एशियाली क्षेत्रीय सहयोग सङ्गठन}}

     | rowclass8 = mergedrow| label8 = [[Pashto]]: | data8 = <div style="text-align: right;">{{lang|ps|{{nq|د سویلي اسیا لپاره د سیمه ایزې همکارۍ ټولنه}}}}</div>

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     | rowclass10 = mergedrow| label10 = [[Tamil language|Tamil]]: | data10 = {{lang|ta|தெற்காசிய நாடுகளின் பிராந்தியக் கூட்டமைப்பு}}

     | rowclass11 = mergedrow| label11 = [[Urdu]]: | data11 = <div style="text-align: right;">{{lang|ur|{{nq|جنوبی ایشیائی علاقائی تعاون کی تنظیم}}}}</div>

| linking_name          = South Asia (disambiguation) <!-- The template converts this to [[Demographics of linking name|Population]]. [[Demographics of South Asia]] is a disambiguation page, and a reasonable target in the absence of a single article on the topic. The added link-text "(disambiguation)" is required to prevent it from being reported as a link that needs to be disambiguated. -->

| image_map              = South Asia (excluding internal borders) (orthographic projection).svg

   |title = '''8 members:'''

  |{{flag|Afghanistan|2013}} |{{flagcountry|Bangladesh}} |{{flagcountry|Bhutan}} |{{flagcountry|India}} |{{flagcountry|Maldives}} |{{flagcountry|Nepal}} |{{flagcountry|Pakistan}} |{{flagcountry|Sri Lanka}}

   |title = '''9 observers:'''

| leader_name1          = [[Esala Weerakoon|Esala Ruwan Weerakoon]]<br />(3 March 2020 – present)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nepalforeignaffairs.com/saarc-secretary-general-weerakoon-assumes-office/ |title=SAARC Secretary General Weerakoon assumes office |website=Nepal Foreign Affairs}}</ref>

| established            = 8 December 1985

| GDP_PPP                = US$11.64 trillion<ref name="imf.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2015/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=88&pr.y=15&sy=2015&ey=2015&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=512,556,513,514,558,564,524,534&s=NGDPD,PPPGDP&grp=0&a=|title=Report for Selected Countries and Subjects|work=imf.org}}</ref>

| GDP_PPP_year          = 2017

| GDP_nominal            = $3.31 trillion<ref name="imf.org"/>

| GDP_nominal_rank      = 5th

| GDP_nominal_year      = 2017

| [[.pk]]  

 

SAARC was founded in [[Dhaka]] on 8 December 1985.<ref>

{{cite news |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/1156839/rest-peace-saarc-tug-war-india-pakistan/ |title=Rest in peace SAARC: The tug of war between India and Pakistan |date=6 August 2016 |first=Naveed |last=Ahmad |publisher=[[The Express Tribune]] |website=tribune.com.pk |access-date=7 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807134934/http://tribune.com.pk/story/1156839/rest-peace-saarc-tug-war-india-pakistan/ |archive-date=7 August 2016 |url-status=live }}

</ref> Its secretariat is based in [[Kathmandu]], [[Nepal]]. The organization promotes development of economic and [[regional integration]].<ref name="Charter of SAARC">{{cite web |url=http://www.saarc-sec.org/SAARC-Charter/5/ |title=Charter of SAARC |website=SAARC Secretariat |access-date=10 November 2013}}</ref> It launched the [[South Asian Free Trade Area]] in 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://aric.adb.org/fta/south-asian-free-trade-area|title=South Asian Free Trade Area Free Trade Agreement|last=Center|first=Asia Regional Integration|website=aric.adb.org|access-date=2 March 2018}}</ref> SAARC maintains permanent diplomatic relations at the [[United Nations]] as an observer and has developed links with multilateral entities, including the [[European Union]].

The idea of co-operation among South Asian Countries was discussed in three conferences: the [[Asian Relations Conference]] held in [[New Delhi]] in April 1947; the Baguio Conference in the [[Philippines]] in May 1950; and the [[Colombo]] Powers Conference held in [[Sri Lanka]] in April 1954.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://jang.com.pk/important_events/saarc_2004/history.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304064044/http://jang.com.pk/important_events/saarc_2004/history.html |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead |title=12th SAARC Summit Islamabad: History and Evolution of SAARC }}</ref>

 

In the ending years of the 1970s, the seven inner South Asian nations that included [[Bangladesh]], [[Bhutan]], India, the [[Maldives]], [[Nepal]], Pakistan, and [[Sri Lanka]] agreed upon the creation of a trade bloc and to provide a platform for the people of South Asia to work together in a spirit of friendship, trust, and understanding. President [[Ziaur Rahman]] later addressed official letters to the leaders of the countries of the South Asia, presenting his vision for the future of the region and the compelling arguments for region.<ref name="Daily Star, Sri Lanka">

{{cite news |date=1 August 2008 |title=History and mission of SAARC |url=http://archives.dailynews.lk/2008/08/01/saarc02.asp |location=Colombo |newspaper=Daily News |access-date=10 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110182400/http://archives.dailynews.lk/2008/08/01/saarc02.asp |archive-date=10 November 2013 |url-status=live }}

{{cite web|last=Muhammad|first=Jamshed Iqbal|title=SAARC: Origin, Growth, Potential and Achievements |url=http://www.nihcr.edu.pk/Latest_English_Journal/SAARC_Jamshed_Iqbal.pdf|work=National Institute of Historical and Cultural Research in Islamabad|access-date=11 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111092347/http://www.nihcr.edu.pk/Latest_English_Journal/SAARC_Jamshed_Iqbal.pdf |archive-date=11 November 2013|url-status=live}}

</ref>

After the [[Soviet Union|USSR]]'s [[Soviet invasion of Afghanistan|intervention]] in [[Communist Afghanistan|Afghanistan]], the efforts to establish the union was accelerated in 1979 and the resulting rapid deterioration of South Asian security situation.<ref name="NIHCR in Islamabad"/> Responding to Rahman and Birendra's convention, the officials of the [[Foreign minister|foreign ministries]] of the [[South Asia|seven countries]] met for the first time in Colombo in April 1981.<ref name="NIHCR in Islamabad"/> The Bangladeshi proposal was promptly endorsed by Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and Maldives but India and Pakistan were sceptical initially.<ref name="NIHCR in Islamabad"/> The Indian concern was the proposal's reference to the security matters in South Asia and feared that Rahman's proposal for a regional organisation might provide an opportunity for new smaller neighbours to re-internationalize all bilateral issues and to join with each other to form an opposition against India. Pakistan assumed that it might be an Indian strategy to organize the other South Asian countries against Pakistan and ensure a regional market for Indian products, thereby consolidating and further strengthening India's economic dominance in the region.<ref name="NIHCR in Islamabad"/>

However, after a series of diplomatic consultations headed by Bangladesh between South Asian U.N. representatives at the [[UN headquarters]] in New York, from September 1979 to 1980, it was agreed that Bangladesh would prepare the draft of a working paper for discussion among the foreign secretaries of South Asian countries.<ref name="NIHCR in Islamabad"/> The foreign secretaries of the inner seven countries again delegated a [[Committee of the Whole]] in Colombo in September 1981, which identified five broad areas for regional cooperation. New areas of co-operation were added in the following years.<ref>

[http://saarc-sec.org/main.php?id=76 "A Brief on SAARC." South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202114138/http://saarc-sec.org/main.php?id=76 |date=2 December 2008 }} No date. See for a complete historical account of SAARC e.g. Michael, Arndt (2013). India's Foreign Policy and Regional Multilateralism (Palgrave Macmillan), pp. 57–112.

</ref>

In 1983, the international conference held in [[Dhaka]] by its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the foreign ministers of the [[South Asia|inner seven countries]] adopted the Declaration on South Asian Association Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and formally launched the Integrated Programme of Action (IPA) initially in five agreed areas of cooperation namely, Agriculture; Rural Development; Telecommunications; Meteorology; and Health and Population Activities.<ref name="Jang Media Group">{{cite web |url=http://jang.com.pk/important_events/saarc_2004/history.html |title=History and Evolution of SAARC |work=Jang Media Research Unit |access-date=11 November 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111092417/http://jang.com.pk/important_events/saarc_2004/history.html |archive-date=11 November 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) {{!}} Treaties & Regimes {{!}} NTI|url=https://www.nti.org/learn/treaties-and-regimes/south-asian-association-regional-cooperation-saarc/|access-date=13 September 2020|website=www.nti.org}}</ref>

Officially, the union was established in [[Dhaka]] with [[Kathmandu]] being the union's secretariat-general.<ref name="About SAARC">{{cite web |url=http://www.mohe.gov.af/saarc.afg/about%20us.html |title=About SAARC |website=SAARC Secretariat |access-date=11 November 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111090614/http://www.mohe.gov.af/saarc.afg/about%20us.html |archive-date=11 November 2013 }}</ref> The first SAARC summit was held in Dhaka on 7–8 December 1985 and hosted by the President of Bangladesh [[Hussain Muhammad Ershad|Hussain Ershad]].<ref name="SAARC Summit press, 1st Summit">{{cite web |url=http://www.saarc-sec.org/userfiles/01-Dhaka-1stSummit1985.pdf |title=1st Summit Declaration |work=SAARC Secretariat |access-date=10 November 2013}}</ref> The declaration signed by King of Bhutan [[Jigme Singye Wangchuk]], President of Pakistan [[Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq|Zia-ul-Haq]], Prime Minister of India [[Rajiv Gandhi]], King of Nepal [[Birendra of Nepal|Birendra Shah]], President of Sri Lanka [[Junius Richard Jayewardene|JR Jayewardene]], and President of Maldives [[Maumoon Abdul Gayoom|Maumoon Gayoom]].<ref name="SAARC Summit press, 1st Summit" />

!GDP (nominal) [US$ million, 2021]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2019/02/weodata/index.aspx|title=IMF GDP data Outlook 2019}}</ref>

!GDP (PPP) [US$ million, 2021]

![[List of countries by real GDP growth rate|GDP growth rate<br />(2018)]]

![[List of countries by exports|Exports<br />(US$ million, 2018)]]

![[List of countries by received FDI|Foreign direct investment<br />(US$ million, 2017 or earlier)]]

![[List of countries by foreign-exchange reserves|Foreign exchange reserves (US$ million, 2020 or earlier)]]

!Defence budget (US$ million, 2020)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.globalfirepower.com/defense-spending-budget.asp|title=Firepower Index, Defence Budget}}</ref>

!Population undernourished (%, 2015)<ref>

{{cite web |url=http://www.fao.org/3/a-i4624e.pdf |title=Regional Overview of Food Insecurity: Asia and the Pacific |date=2015 |publisher=[[FAO|Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations]] |access-date=2 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924011158/http://www.fao.org/3/a-i4624e.pdf |archive-date=24 September 2015 |url-status=live }}

(2)

| style="text-align:left;" | Bangladesh || {{UN_Population|Bangladesh}} || $409,000 || $$1,070,000 || $2,554 || $6,380 || 8.2% || $48,000 || $14,620 || $45,054 || $4,530 || 78.7% || 73.10 || 7.8% || 98% || 73% || 11.4%

|0.608

(136)

| style="text-align:left;" | India || {{UN_Population|India}} || $3,049,704 || $10,510,290 || $2,191 || $7,333 || 6.8% || $303,400 || $367,500 || $487,237 || $60,580 || 77.7% || 70.1 || 21.2% || 92% || 75% || 15.2%

(39)

| style="text-align:left;" | Nepal || {{UN_Population|Nepal}} || $29,813 || $94,414 || $1,115 || $3,585 || 6.2% || $819 || $103 || $9,440 || $213 || 64.7% || 70.25 || 6% || 98% || 67% || 7.8%

(1)

| style="text-align:left;" | Sri Lanka || {{UN_Population|Sri Lanka}} || $86,556 || $304,826 || $3,698 || $13,114 || 3.0% || $10,930 || N/A || $7,635 || $2,500 || 93.2% || 75.28 || 6.7% || 94% || 99% || 22%

|}

</div>

{{cite web |url=http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullstory.asp?filename=6a6Za3za.9amal&folder=aHaoamW&Name=Home&dtSiteDate=20060802 |title=thehimalayantimes.com |access-date=2 August 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090209052654/http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullstory.asp?filename=6a6Za3za.9amal&folder=aHaoamW&Name=Home&dtSiteDate=20060802 |archive-date=9 February 2009 |url-status=dead }}

{{cite web |url=http://www.orfonline.org/cms/sites/orfonline/modules/analysis/AnalysisDetail.html?cmaid=14854&mmacmaid=14855 |title=SAARC and Myanmar: Observer Research Foundation |access-date=6 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212141859/http://www.orfonline.org/cms/sites/orfonline/modules/analysis/AnalysisDetail.html?cmaid=14854&mmacmaid=14855 |archive-date=12 December 2013 |url-status=dead }}

</ref> China has requested joining SAARC.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Kumar |first=S. Y. Surendra |date=December 2015 |title=China's SAARC membership: The debate |url=https://icsum.org.my/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/IJCSV6N3-FULL-ISSUE-1.pdf |journal=International Journal of China Studies |volume=6 |issue=3 |pages=299–311}}</ref> [[Russia]] has applied for observer status membership of SAARC.<ref name="The Economic Times">{{cite news |date=16 February 2014 |title=Russia, Turkey seek observer status in SAARC |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/russia-turkey-seek-observer-status-in-saarc/articleshow/30517011.cms |work=The Economic Times |agency=IANS |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170623012720/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/russia-turkey-seek-observer-status-in-saarc/articleshow/30517011.cms |archive-date=23 June 2017 }}</ref><ref name="cris.unu.edu">

</ref> [[Turkey]] applied for observer status membership of SAARC in 2012.<ref name="The Economic Times"/><ref name="cris.unu.edu"/><ref name="news.oneindia.in"/> [[South Africa]] has participated in meetings.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/uncategorized/saarc-nations-call-for-transparency-in-social-sector_10024810.html|title=SAARC nations call for transparency in social sector|work=thaindian.com}}</ref> [[Indonesia]], [[Jordan]], [[Canada]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]], the [[United Kingdom]] and [[Yemen]] have expressed interest.{{citation needed|date=September 2021}}

{{cite web |url=http://saarc-sec.org/saarc-regional-centres |title=Saarc Secretariat |access-date=8 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809040239/http://saarc-sec.org/saarc-regional-centres |archive-date=9 August 2017 |url-status=live }}

The 19th SAARC summit scheduled to be held in Pakistan was called off as India, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan decided to boycott it due to [[2016 Uri attack|a terrorist attack on an army camp in Uri]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.geo.tv/latest/116144-SAARC-conference-in-Pakistan-postponed-confirm-official-sources |title=SAARC conference in Pakistan postponed |access-date=21 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170210001802/https://www.geo.tv/latest/116144-SAARC-conference-in-Pakistan-postponed-confirm-official-sources |archive-date=10 February 2017 |url-status=live }}

The SAFTA Agreement was signed on 6 January 2004 during Twelfth SAARC Summit held in [[Islamabad]], Pakistan.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gtap.agecon.purdue.edu/resources/download/2977.pdf |title=Challenges and opportunities for Pakistan under SAFTA |first1=Asif |last1=Maqbool |first2=Muhammad Waqas Alam |last2=Chattha |first3=Masood |last3=Azeem |format=PDF |date= |access-date=2022-01-27}}</ref> The Agreement entered into force on 1 January 2006, and the Trade Liberalization Programme commenced from 1 July 2006.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://commerce.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/safta.pdf |title=Agreement on South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) |website=Department of Commerce}}</ref> Under this agreement, SAARC members will bring their duties down to 20 percent by 2009. Following the Agreement coming into force the SAFTA Ministerial Council (SMC) has been established comprising the Commerce Ministers of the Member States.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.saarc-sec.org/areaofcooperation/detail.php?activity_id=5|title=South Asian Association For Regional Cooperation&nbsp;— Area of Cooperation|work=saarc-sec.org}}</ref> In 2012 SAARC exports increased substantially to $354.6 billion from $206.7 billion in 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.eximbankindia.in/Assets/Dynamic/PDF/Publication-Resources/ResearchPapers/43file.pdf |title=Potential for Enhancing Intra-SAARC Trade: A Brief Analysis |website=Export-Import Bank of India}}</ref> Imports too increased from $330 billion to $602 billion over the same period. But the intra-SAARC trade amounts to just a little over 1% of SAARC's GDP. In contrast to SAARC, in [[ASEAN]] (which is actually smaller than SAARC in terms of the size of the economy) the intra-bloc trade stands at 10% of its GDP.

{{cite web |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/142861-ADB-urges-Safta-to-exploit-rich-trade-potential-of-member-countries |title=ADB urges Safta to exploit rich trade potential of member countries |access-date=22 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202004901/https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/142861-ADB-urges-Safta-to-exploit-rich-trade-potential-of-member-countries |archive-date=2 February 2017 |url-status=live }}

The [[SAARC Literary Award]] is an annual award conferred by the [[Foundation of SAARC Writers and Literature]] ([[FOSWAL]]) since 2001<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.foundationsaarcwriters.com/literature/saarc-literary-awards |title=SAARC Literary Awards |access-date=2 November 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103223413/http://www.foundationsaarcwriters.com/literature/saarc-literary-awards |archive-date=3 November 2013 |website=Foundation Of SAARC Writers And Literature}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/books/five-writers-honoured-at-saarc-literature-festival/article1-1024426.aspx |title=Hindustan Times - Archive News |access-date=2 November 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110215810/http://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/books/five-writers-honoured-at-saarc-literature-festival/article1-1024426.aspx |archive-date=10 November 2013 }} Five Writers honoured at SAARC Litearure Festival, Hindustan Times 11 March 2013</ref> which is an apex SAARC body.<ref>

|[[20th SAARC summit|20th]]|| [2022] || Pakistan || [[Islamabad]]|| N/A

<gallery class="center" widths="150" heights="200" classes="center">

File:3x4.svg|{{flag|Afghanistan|2013}}<br>'''[[Hibatullah Akhundzada]]'''<br>[[Leader of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan|Leader of Afghanistan]]<br>{{small|(''[[Recognition of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan|de facto]]'')}}

File:Sheikh Hasina 2018 (cropped).JPG|{{flag|Bangladesh|name=People's Republic of Bangladesh}}<br>'''[[Sheikh Hasina]]'''<br>[[Prime Minister of Bangladesh]]

File:Lotay Tshering December 2018 crop.jpg|{{flag|Bhutan|name=Kingdom of Bhutan}}<br>'''[[Lotay Tshering]]'''<br>[[List of prime ministers of Bhutan|Prime Minister of Bhutan]]

File:Narendra Modi interacting with the President of the United States of America, Mr. Joe Biden, during the India-US virtual summit, in New Delhi on April 11, 2022 (3) (cropped).jpg|{{flag|Republic of India}}<br>'''[[Narendra Modi]]'''<br>[[Prime Minister of India]]

File:Ibrahim Mohamed Solih October 2019 crop.jpg|{{flag|Maldives|name=Republic of Maldives}}<br>'''[[Ibrahim Mohamed Solih]]'''<br>[[President of the Maldives]]

File:Sher Bahadur Deuba November 2021 crop.jpg|{{flag|Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal}}<br>'''[[Sher Bahadur Deuba]]'''<br>[[List of prime ministers of Nepal|Prime Minister of Nepal]]

File:CM Punjab Shehbaz Sharif (35771009683) (cropped).jpg|{{flag|Islamic Republic of Pakistan}}<br>'''[[Shehbaz Sharif]]'''<br>[[Prime Minister of Pakistan]]

File:Gotabaya Rajapaksa November 2019 crop.jpg|{{flag|Sri Lanka|name=Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka}}<br>'''[[Gotabaya Rajapaksa]]'''<br>[[President of Sri Lanka]]

 

| [[Leader of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan|Leader]]  (''[[Recognition of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan|de facto]]'')

| [[Sher Bahadur Deuba]]

| [[Gotabaya Rajapaksa]]