SAARC: A Failed Experiment

Name
Aman Pandey
2057304

Submitted to
Dr. Stefy. V. Joseph

Masters in International Relations

Department of Social Sciences
School of International Studies, Political Sciences and History
(August, 2020)
SAARC: A failed experiment

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) comprises eight countries
of South Asia, i.e. Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri
Lanka. The idea of regional cooperation in South Asia was first mooted in May 1980 by
Bangladesh President Ziaur Rahman(SAARC Secretariat). It was an ambitious attempt by
the curious neighbourhood of South Asia to create an era of mutual cooperation and
economic development through the integration of the region and convergence of interests,
the experiment, today, seems severely inconsequential given the meagre progress exhibited
by the said organisation.

It had made some progress over the years with the establishment of South Asian University,
the operationalisation of the SAARC Food Bank and SAARC development fund; the
agreement of South Asian Free Trade along with various conventions, but most of these
achievements, have failed to leave a mark in enhancing the relationship and mutual
cooperations among the member countries since South Asia is still and will remain in the
foreseeable future, the least regionally integrated regions in the world. (Ministry Of External
Affairs, India)

The structure of  SAARC and the nature of relationship of the member countries is such that
achieving the objectives of the  organisation were always a long shot. For any adoption of a
resolution, the organisation requires a unanimous decision and this impairs the functioning of
the organisation since India and Pakistan are the only dominant forces in the organisation
and terrorism, the only bone of contention. India and Afghanistan have bled for decades
owing to the terror factory working from within Pakistan and in cahoot with the political and
military dispensation there that breeds, feeds and exports terrorism in the world, especially in
India. India is today isolating Pakistan in the global political arena and this makes the smooth
functioning of the organisation, a distant dream; since Pakistan’s tryst with terrorism will only
end with it and India will, and should, not tolerate terrorism being perpetrated on its soil. 

Recently, the Indian government made an overture by calling for a SAARC meeting to
discuss the Covid crisis and take measure for the same. This is in line with India’s
neighbourhood policy which was also exhibited by the presence of all the heads of state of
all the member countries (PTI). The SAARC leaders appreciated India’s initiatives but
Pakistan, unfortunately, raised the Kashmir issue in the video conference that was arranged
for the meet but India refrained from getting involved in the issue. 

 A COVID-19 emergency  fund was set up at the behest of the Indian government where the
member countries would form a pool of funds to assist the member countries in the crisis.
Although the total corpus is around  $22 millions yet the contribution of India i.e. $10 millions
was a significant amount to be kept at the disposal of the SAARC body (PTI). India also
exported medical supplies to the member countries but these steps are not enough to
rejuvenate this partially dead organisation.

 The fact of the matter is that SAARC as an organisation will never be able to function
effectively due to the deep rooted problems of Pakistan as a nation and it’s irrational fear of
India. India on the other hand has a somewhat functional relationship with all the other
SAARC members but it’s relationship with Pakistan has tanked drastically, especially after
the Modi led NDA alliance, that is showing no sign of restraint in hurting and isolating
Pakistan ever since the Uri attacks were perpetrated in India where 19 Indian soldiers lost
their lives at the hands of Pakistani terrorists (Mukherjee, 2020). Afghanistan  is the only key
political and diplomatic concern for India in the organisation for which it is trying other means
like Chabahar Port in Iran, to integrate its economy with India as far as other SAARC
members are concerned, India is eyeing for better options to deliberate.

India is slowly moving away from SAARC and regional integration to BIMSTEC and inter-
regional integration , i.e, the integration of South Asian countries and South-east Asian
countries.  BIMSTEC, Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-sectoral Technical and Economic
Cooperation, is basically SAARC minus Pakistan and Afghanistan, plus Thailand and
Myanmar.

BIMSTEC charter was recently signed by the member countries after 23 years of its
inception.(Bhuiyan, 2010) This move would take the functioning of the organization forward.
This move also depicts India’s shift towards a more docile neighbourhood instead of a
hostile one. BIMSTEC is now being seen as a workable alternative to SAARC which is laden
with insurmountable troubles. With India moving towards BIMSTEC  and Pakistan moving
towards China, there is very little left in SAARC except, perhaps, Afghanistan which
concerns both India and Pakistan. 

China and the United States are two other extra-regional factors that have contributed to the
failure of SAARC as an organisation due to their active involvement in regional trade and
politics. With the Belt and Road Initiative and generous loans, China has got Pakistan in its
pocket, towing its line and Pakistan doesn’t need New Delhi for trade anymore. China has
got enough clout in other SAARC countries as well, giving it strong diplomatic and economic
leverage in the region, be it Sri Lanka, Bangladesh or Nepal where it is extending heavy
loans and investing immense political capital to keep the Indian neighbourhood hooked to
China’s deep pockets. 

US’s waning influence in Pakistan has also led to the weakening prospects of the
organization as United States would often act as a mediator among the South Asian
neighbours, especially India and Pakistan, but with recent change of US’s policy towards
Pakistan and China’s growing influence in Pakistan along with its own hostility towards India
has made the future prospects of SAARC rather unattractive. 

The statement of the former Vice Chancellor of Central University, Sikkim, Mahendra P
Lama which he said at the inaugural of the two-day international seminar on, ‘Three decades
of SAARC: A critical appraisal’ held in Visakhapatnam aptly describes the possibilities of
SAARC. It goes, ““SAARC could have become flying geese. But the member-countries,
fearing India’s domination, have pulled it down.” At the current status of SAARC he said, “It
is like India-Pakistan relations – no war no peace.” (SAARC a failed mission, 2017) This
sums up the status of SAARC in the current political scenario.
References
 
Bhuiyan, Humayun Kabir: Bimstec charter finalized 23 years after inception 
https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2020/09/02/bimstec-charter-finalized-23-years-
after-inception 

Brief on SAARC
https://mea.gov.in/in-focus-article.htm?18785/Brief+on+SAARC 

Coronavirus | SAARC countries unite to combat COVID-19 infections

https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/coronavirus-saarc-countries-unite-to-combat-
covid-19-infections/article31397086.ece 

SAARC a failed mission, say experts 

https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Visakhapatnam/saarc-a-failed-mission-say-experts/
article17748997.ece

The SAARC Secretariat

http://www.saarc-sec.org/