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SAARC

South Asian Association for Regional Corporation is an organization of eight South Asian countries founded in 1985 and is a regional intergovernmental organization and geopolitical union of South Asian countries. The members of the SAARC organization include India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Afghanistan, Bhutan and Bangladesh. The organization was created to promote development in regional integration as well as in economical conditions of the members of SAARC organization and also to promote social, technological and cultural developments in the region. The Secretariat of the organization is located in Kathmandu, Nepal and SAARC represents 3% of world area and 21% of the world population with 1.7 billion people. The meetings of the head of states usually are scheduled to meet on an annual basis and the foreign secretaries meetings is scheduled twice annually. There are 11 areas where SAARC countries co-operate with each other and the area includes agriculture, education, culture and sports, population and child welfare, health, environment and meteorology, rural development, tourism, science and technology, transport and prevention of drug trafficking and drug abuse. SAARC maintains permanent diplomatic relations with the European Union and United Nations being the observer. The idea for formation of an organization for co-operation in South Asia was discussed at least in three conferences; the Asian Relations Conference; Baguio Conference and Colombo Powers Conference. Later, in the 1970s the seven inner South Asian nations that included India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives agreed to create a platform for trade, bloc and for the people of South Asia to work together in a environment of friendship, trust and understanding. On 2nd May 1980, Late President of Bangladesh Ziaur Rahman raised the necessity of regional, political as well as economical co-operation in South Asia and then the first SAARC summit was held on 8th December 1985 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Afghanistan wasnt a part of the SAARC during its formation and it was awarded a full membership later in 2005. The main objective of SAARC is to promote the welfare of the people of South Asia and to improve the quality of their life, to increase the economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region and to promote and strengthen the cooperation with other developing nation and to maintain the peace and prosperity of its member nations. In the 13th SAARC meeting there was emphasis made in cooperation among the members of the SAARC countries to fight collectively against terrorism. There are also political situations of the SAARC countries discussed in the meeting and the member countries are desist from interfering in domestic issues of the member countries. Few of the achievements of the SAARC association include South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) and SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme. SAFTA agreement was signed on 6th January 2004 during the twelfth SAARC Summit in Islamabad, Pakistan and the agreement came into force from 1st January 2016. Under the agreement, SAARC members were asked to bring down their duties to 20 percent by 2009. This has led to an increase of exports from US$206.7 billion in 2009 to US$354.6 billion in 2012. The imports too increased from US$330 billion to US$602 billion in 2012. However, the intra trade among the SAARC members amounted only 1% of SAARCs GDP. SAARC Visa exception Scheme was launched in 1992 after the fourth SAARC Summit held in Islamabad. During the summit it was decided to provide special travel document to certain categories of dignitaries which would exempt them from visas within the region. This list currently consists of 24 categories of entitled persons and it includes Dignitaries, judges, parliamentarians, businessmen and senior officials etc. SAARC has six Apex Bodies that includes SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), SAARCLAW, South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA), South Asian Foundation (SAF), South Asia Initiative to End Violence Against Children (SAIEVAC) AND Foundation of SAARC Writers and Literature (FOSWAL). SAARC has been able to conduct 18 SAARC Summit so far. The 19th SAARC Summit is scheduled on for 9th and 10th November 2016 and it will be hosted in Pakistan. The activities and the initiatives of SAARC are monitored by the SAARC Secretariat and it acts as the communication channel between SAARC and its member states. The Secretariat is based in Kathmandu, Nepal and the secretariat is presently headed by Arjun Thapa, Nepals ex-foreign secretary. SAARC has received both positive as well as negative reviews for its functioning. SAARC is appraised for the increase in the scope in the regional cooperation of SAARC and the rise in the interactions of commerce of the SAARC countries. However, SAARC is criticized as it has not been able to achieve anything big in the past three decades and there has also been a rise of terrorism in Afghanistan and Pakistan. There are also disputes between the two major members of the organization India and Pakistan and it has also lead to a dismal growth in the social and economic sectors of the organization.

7 Reasons Why SAARC Could Not Create A Global Influence And What It Needs To Do
Brigadier Anupam Agarwal | May 9, 2022 7:30 PM IST
SAARC must adopt a comprehensive and region-specific approach, wherein all acts of terrorism must
7 Reasons Why SAARC Could Not Create A Global Influence And What It Needs To Do
indiacom
2022-05-09T08:30:29+00:00
2022-05-11T04:59:05+00:00
SAARC
India.com
Akasa Air Plans Domestic Operations by Early June, May Begin International Flights by 2023, Says CEO Vinay Dube
India.com Business Desk | January 25, 2022 6:18 PM IST
It must be noted that the Akasa Air, which will start the operations as a low-cost carrier, has
Akasa Air Plans Domestic Operations by Early June, May Begin International Flights by 2023, Says CEO Vinay Du
indiacom
2022-01-25T07:18:04+00:00
2022-01-25T07:18:04+00:00
SAARC
India.com
SAARC Foreign Ministers Meet Stands Cancelled as Pakistan Wanted Taliban to Represent Afghanistan: Report
India.com News Desk | September 22, 2021 7:00 AM IST
India along with some other members objected to the proposal and due to lack of consensus or
SAARC Foreign Ministers Meet Stands Cancelled as Pakistan Wanted Taliban to Represent Afghanistan: Report
indiacom
2021-09-21T20:00:00+00:00
2021-09-21T20:02:57+00:00
SAARC
India.com
SAARC Must Deal With Cross-Border Terrorism, Obstruction of Trade And Connectivity: Jaishankar
India.com News Desk | September 24, 2020 7:00 PM IST
Notably, Pakistan had blocked a key connectivity initiative under SAARC framework six years back
SAARC Must Deal With Cross-Border Terrorism, Obstruction of Trade And Connectivity: Jaishankar
indiacom
2020-09-24T08:00:07+00:00
2020-09-24T08:00:07+00:00
SAARC
India.com
India Vs Pakistan Over SAARC? Now, Pakistan to Hold Meeting on Deeper Cooperation During Covid-19
India.com News Desk | April 23, 2020 10:40 AM IST
Besides ministers and senior officials, the meeting will be attended by Secretary-General SAARC
India Vs Pakistan Over SAARC? Now, Pakistan to Hold Meeting on Deeper Cooperation During Covid-19
indiacom
2020-04-22T23:40:08+00:00
2020-04-22T23:40:08+00:00
SAARC
India.com
Pakistan Not Serious About SAARC Initiative For COVID-19, Alleges MEA
PTI | April 10, 2020 2:11 PM IST
On Wednesday, Pakistan boycotted a video conference of trade officials of the SAARC countries,
Pakistan Not Serious About SAARC Initiative For COVID-19, Alleges MEA
indiacom
2020-04-10T03:11:47+00:00
2020-04-10T04:07:42+00:00
SAARC
India.com
SAARC: Pakistan Boycotts India-led Trade Meeting on Coronavirus
PTI | April 9, 2020 6:30 AM IST
In order for the SAARC process to move forward, the SAARC Secretariat must be enabled to play its
SAARC: Pakistan Boycotts India-led Trade Meeting on Coronavirus
indiacom
2020-04-08T19:30:04+00:00
2020-04-08T22:38:17+00:00
SAARC
India.com
SAARC Officials Discuss COVID-19 Situation, Ways to Boost Intra-regional Trade
India.com Business Desk | April 8, 2020 10:45 PM IST
The officials discussed specific issues like facilitation of trade through pragmatic solutions in
SAARC Officials Discuss COVID-19 Situation, Ways to Boost Intra-regional Trade
indiacom
2020-04-08T11:45:56+00:00
2020-04-08T11:45:56+00:00
SAARC
India.com
SAARC Covid-19 Fund: Why Pakistan Has Not Yet Made Its Contribution
India.com News Desk | March 26, 2020 8:28 AM IST
According to reports, Pakistan doubts the utilisation of the fund and want the fund to be
SAARC Covid-19 Fund: Why Pakistan Has Not Yet Made Its Contribution
indiacom
2020-03-25T21:28:51+00:00
2020-03-25T23:35:47+00:00
SAARC
India.com
Bangladesh Pledges USD 1.5 mn to SAARC COVID-19 Emergency Fund
PTI | March 22, 2020 9:51 PM IST
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina approved the amount in favour of the SAARC Secretariat to combat the
Bangladesh Pledges USD 1.5 mn to SAARC COVID-19 Emergency Fund
indiacom
2020-03-22T10:51:17+00:00
2020-03-22T10:52:20+00:00
SAARC
India.com
Coronavirus: 'No Issue if PM Wants to Call Meet of SAARC, But Government Still Not Doing Enough,' Says P Chidambaram
India.com News Desk | March 16, 2020 1:08 PM IST
The Congress leader further said that unlike the government, states were taking bold measures and
Coronavirus: 'No Issue if PM Wants to Call Meet of SAARC, But Government Still Not Doing Enough,' Says P Chid
indiacom
2020-03-16T02:08:34+00:00
2020-03-16T02:08:34+00:00
SAARC
India.com
Coronavirus: PM Modi Proposes COVID-19 Emergency Fund to SAARC Leaders, Total Cases in India Touch 107, Over 6000 Dead Globally
India.com News Desk | March 15, 2020 11:45 PM IST
Furthermore, in a significant development, the Health Ministry on Sunday also made the first and
Coronavirus: PM Modi Proposes COVID-19 Emergency Fund to SAARC Leaders, Total Cases in India Touch 107, Over
indiacom
2020-03-15T12:45:58+00:00
2020-03-15T12:45:58+00:00
SAARC
India.com
SAARC Video Conference on Coronavirus: Pakistan Raises Kashmir Issue, Says ‘Restrictions Must be Lifted’
India.com News Desk | March 15, 2020 7:32 PM IST
Representing Pakistan government, State Minister of Health Zafar Mirza said, It is a matter of
SAARC Video Conference on Coronavirus: Pakistan Raises Kashmir Issue, Says ‘Restrictions Must be Lifted’
indiacom
2020-03-15T08:32:11+00:00
2020-03-15T08:32:11+00:00
SAARC
India.com
In Video Call With SAARC Leaders, PM Proposes to Create COVID-19 Emergency Fund; India to Contribute USD 10 mn
India.com News Desk | March 15, 2020 6:54 PM IST
"I propose, we create a #COVID19 emergency fund. This could be based on voluntary contributions
In Video Call With SAARC Leaders, PM Proposes to Create COVID-19 Emergency Fund; India to Contribute USD 10 m
indiacom
2020-03-15T07:54:03+00:00
2020-03-15T07:55:16+00:00
SAARC
India.com
SAARC Video Conference: This is What Member Countries Said About Tackling Coronavirus
India.com News Desk | March 15, 2020 6:24 PM IST
While PM Modi led the conference, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Maldivian President
SAARC Video Conference: This is What Member Countries Said About Tackling Coronavirus
indiacom
2020-03-15T07:24:19+00:00
2020-03-15T07:24:19+00:00
SAARC
India.com
Coronavirus Video Conference of SAARC Countries on PM Modi's Proposal: What to Expect
India.com News Desk | March 15, 2020 10:37 AM IST
India's foreign policy took a shift from SAARC to BIMSTEC, as the latter doesn't have Pakistan. In
Coronavirus Video Conference of SAARC Countries on PM Modi's Proposal: What to Expect
indiacom
2020-03-14T23:37:32+00:00
2020-03-15T01:36:36+00:00
SAARC
India.com
Pakistan Responds to PM Modi's Appeal; Says Ready to Participate in Coronavirus Video Conference
PTI | March 14, 2020 12:10 PM IST
Modi's suggestion was backed by all member states of SAARC. All the leaders of the grouping
Pakistan Responds to PM Modi's Appeal; Says Ready to Participate in Coronavirus Video Conference
indiacom
2020-03-14T01:10:49+00:00
2020-03-14T02:41:35+00:00
SAARC
India.com
Responding to PM Modi's Proposal, SAARC Leaders Promise Joint Strategy To Fight Coronavirus
ANI | March 13, 2020 4:42 PM IST
Modi on Friday had proposed that the leaders of the SAARC countries should chalk out a joint
Responding to PM Modi's Proposal, SAARC Leaders Promise Joint Strategy To Fight Coronavirus
indiacom
2020-03-13T05:42:49+00:00
2020-03-13T05:44:26+00:00
SAARC
India.com
Know Everything About BIMSTEC Before Their Leaders Attend PM Modi Swearing-in Ceremony
India.com News Desk | May 27, 2019 10:27 PM IST
As Pakistan is not a member of BIMSTEC, the invitation indicates a paradigm shift in India's policy
Know Everything About BIMSTEC Before Their Leaders Attend PM Modi Swearing-in Ceremony
indiacom
2019-05-27T11:27:04+00:00
2019-05-27T11:37:42+00:00
SAARC
India.com
India-Pakistan Standoff Has Nepal Worried, Himalayan Nation Calls For 'Utmost Restraint'
India.com News Desk | February 27, 2019 4:37 PM IST
Currently, Nepal heads SAARC.
India-Pakistan Standoff Has Nepal Worried, Himalayan Nation Calls For 'Utmost Restraint'
indiacom
2019-02-27T05:37:53+00:00
2019-02-27T05:53:01+00:00
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India.com