Introduction

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was formed under Article 52
of the United Nations. It was established in Dhaka on 8th December, 1985 after about four
and half years of its preparation. It comprises the seven countries of South Asia; Afghanistan
(Joined in 2003) Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, The Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The
basic aim of the Association is to accelerate the process of economic and social
development in member countries through joint action in the agreed areas of cooperation.

The SAARC region is of strategic importance between the east and west with respect to
defence, trade, transport population growth and economic development particular for India
directly and indirectly. The Indian Ocean plays a vital role in defence, trade and water
transport is in the proximity of the majority of South Asia countries.

The SAARC region is a landmass of 3.3. percent of the world and has one-fifth of the
population. All the SAARC countries can be categorized into different groups. Firstly, there
are two land-locked countries namely Bhutan and Nepal. Secondly, there are two Islands
such as Sri Lanka and Maldives and thirdly, the three countries, India, Pakistan and
Bangladesh which have the Indian Ocean in the South and South West and the Indo-
Gangatic plains stretching along these countries.

Majority of the people in SAARC countries depend on agriculture and have poor education,
lack in science and technology as well as suffer from over-population. Most of the countries
depend on the developed countries for aid and trade.

Evolution of SAARC

The idea of regional cooperation in South Asia was first initiated by late President Zia- Ur-
Rehman of Bangladesh who visited Nepal, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka during 1977- 78 to
explore the possibilities of regional economic cooperation among the SAARC Countries. He
proposed for the collective self- reliance in a common quest for peace and development of
all these countries.

In May 1980, he issued a formal call for SAARC Regional Cooperation. His call received a
positive response from all the SAARC countries. Hence, consultations at official level were
carried out for the proposed cooperation. These preliminary exchanges brought out clearly
that regional cooperation should on the hand, reflect the spirit of mutual trust,
understanding and sympathetic appreciation of the political inspiration existing among the
countries of the region, and on the other hand, such cooperation should be based in respect
of the principles of sovereignty equality, territorial integrity, non- interference in internal
affairs of other nations and mutual benefit

The first meeting of the foreign secretaries of the seven countries was held in Colombo (Sri
Lanka) in April 1981 for regional cooperation. It was agreed that regional cooperation
should be based on mutual trust, understanding and sympathetic appreciation of the
national aspirations of all the countries of the SAARC region. It led to the identification of
five broad areas, for regional cooperation; Agriculture, Rural Development,
Telecommunications, Meteorology, and Health and population activities.

The Foreign Ministers, at their first meeting in New Delhi in August 1983, adopted the
Declaration on South Asian Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and formally launched the
Integrated Programme of Action (IPA) initially in five agreed areas of Cooperation. Scientific
and Technological Cooperation; Sports, Arts and Culture were added to the IPA at a later
stage.

Objectives, Principles and General Provisions of SAARC

Objectives

 To promote the welfare of the peoples of South Asia and to improve their quality of
life;
 To accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the
region and to provide all individuals the opportunity to live in dignity and to realize
their full potential;
 To promote and strengthen collective self-reliance among the countries of South
Asia;
 To contribute to mutual trust, understanding and appreciation of one another’s
problems;
 To promote active collaboration and mutual assistance in the economic, social,
cultural technical and scientific fields;
 To strengthen cooperation with other developing countries;
 To strengthen cooperation among themselves in international forums on matters of
common interests; and
 To cooperate with international and regional organisations with similar aims and
purposes.

Principles

 Cooperation within the framework of the Association is based on respect for the
principles of sovereign equality, territorial integrity, political independence, non-
interference in the internal affairs of other States and mutual benefit.
 Such cooperation is to complement and not to substitute bilateral or multilateral
cooperation. SAARC - A PROFILE SAARC – A PROFILE South Asian Association for
Regional Cooperation
 Such cooperation should be consistent with bilateral and multilateral obligations of
Member States.

General Provisions

 Decisions at all levels in SAARC shall be taken on the basis of unanimity;

 Bilateral and contentious issues shall be excluded from the deliberations of the
Association.
Institutional Set-Up of SAARC

 The Summit: The highest authority of the Association rests with the Heads of State or
Government, who meet annually at Summit level. To date, nineteen meetings of the
Heads of State or Government have been held.
 The Council of Ministers: It comprises the Foreign Ministers of Member States, who
are responsible for formulating policies, reviewing progress, deciding on new areas
of cooperation, establishing additional mechanisms as deemed necessary and
deciding on other matters of general interest to the Association. The Council is
expected to meet twice a year and may also meet in extraordinary session by
agreement of the Member States.
 The Standing Committee: It comprises the Foreign Secretaries of Member States and
is entrusted with the task of overall monitoring and coordination of programmes;
the approval of projects and programmes and the modalities of financing;
determining inter-sectoral priorities; mobilizing regional and external resources; and
identifying new areas of cooperation. It meets as often as deemed necessary and
submits its reports to the Council of Ministers.
 The Technical Committees: The Technical Committees formulate specialized
programmes and prepare projects in their respective fields under the IPA. They are
responsible for monitoring the implementation of such activities and submit their
reports to the Standing Committee through the Programming Committee. Under the
new SAARC Integrated Programme of Action (SIPA), the number of Technical
Committees has been reduced from eleven to seven mainly through the combination
of the different sectors covered by the various Technical Committees and eliminating
overlapping, duplication and waste.
 Specialized Ministerial Meetings: Since the establishment of the Association, a
number of SAARC ministerial meetings have been held, to focus attention on specific
areas of common concerns, and have become an integral part of the consultative
structure. These meetings initiated cooperation in important areas such as trade,
manufactures and services, basic needs, human resources development, database
on socioeconomic indicators, energy modeling techniques, plan modeling techniques
and poverty alleviation strategies.

Need of SAARC

Potential for Cooperation

There is great potential area for regional cooperation among South Asian nations. Since the
formation of the SAARC in the year 1985 discussion form time to time for future
cooperation among them has taken place.

The SAARC countries generally suffer from the common problems of poverty,
unemployment, inflationary pressure, unfavourable trade balance, high budget deficits and
low growth rates. The policies that have been adopted are contradictory to one another.
The policy issues were more competitively natured than complementary or cooperative.
The countries of South Asian linked themselves in the matter of aid and trade with
developed economic nations. Like foreign exchange, advance technology, foreign aid etc. It
dragged the SAARC countries to the western industrialized countries. In the early stages of
economic development there was shortage of capital investment and technology aids from
developed nations.

The SAARC Nations has now realized that it would solve their problems of poverty,
unemployment, inflation and low rate of growth, by cooperating among themselves. The
mutual fear and apprehensions disappear, to better their economies. After assessing and
analysing the solution to their problems becomes more apparent that there are more areas
of cooperation than areas of conflict. The best way for the SAARC countries to cooperate
would be when intra-regional trade increases through providing facilities to one another.

There is a great scope for development within South Asian nations, telecommunication,
roads, transport, energy and other infrastructural facilities can easily be developed through
mutual cooperation. India, Bangladesh and Pakistan, Nepal and Bhutan can easily be
developed through rail and road transport. In addition, Bhutan and Nepal have hydro
electric power potentials which can easily be exported by India. Moreover, by proper
management of water resources, floods and droughts can be minimized for the benefit of
their agriculture. Development of common telecommunication services can help in
monitoring weather reports, international market fluctuations in prices and products and
exchange of scientific information.