Can SAARC Be Revived? Assessing Prospects for Regional Cooperation
After a decade of dormancy, renewed geopolitical shifts create an opening for South Asian regional integration.
The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation has been effectively frozen since 2016, when cross-border tensions led India to boycott the Islamabad summit. Yet diplomatic whispers suggest member states are quietly exploring revival mechanisms.
BIMSTEC's rise as an alternative forum has not diminished SAARC's institutional infrastructure, which includes a secretariat, development fund, and established trade protocols awaiting activation.
Dr. Anisha Sharma
Senior Diplomatic Correspondent
Dr. Sharma covers South Asian diplomacy and multilateral institutions. Former Fulbright scholar at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service.
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