Talks advance on new grouping to replace dormant South Asian alliance
Pakistan and China are reportedly moving forward with efforts to form a new regional alliance to replace the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), which has remained inactive since 2016. Talks between Islamabad and Beijing are said to be at an advanced stage, according to a report.
Bangladesh also attended a recent meeting on June 19 in Kunming, China, where discussions focused on bringing other former SAARC members into the proposed grouping. The long-term objective of the Kunming meeting, according to the report, is to build a new regional platform for South Asian cooperation.
China and Pakistan broaden regional outreach
The Kunming meeting followed a May trilateral engagement between China, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. That discussion centered on extending the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and enhancing regional integration, especially within Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.
SAARC was established in 1985 with seven founding members, and Afghanistan joined in 2007. However, internal divisions, particularly between India and Pakistan, have hindered progress. The last in-person SAARC Summit took place in 2014 in Kathmandu.
SAARC stalled after the 2016 Uri attack
The 19th SAARC Summit was scheduled for November 2016 in Islamabad but was indefinitely postponed after India announced a boycott. This decision followed the terrorist attack in Uri, Jammu and Kashmir, in which 17 Indian soldiers were killed. Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Bhutan also pulled out over concerns related to terrorism and regional security.
India’s attempt to reinvigorate SAARC during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic—via a virtual conference and a $10 million contribution to a regional emergency fund—did not revive long-term momentum. Since then, no summit has been held.
Mixed responses to the new bloc proposal
A report claims that both Pakistan and China believe the time is right for a new organization to promote connectivity and cooperation in the region. Other countries like Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and Afghanistan are also expected to join the initiative.
Bangladesh, however, clarified its stance. Foreign affairs adviser M Touhid Hossain stated that the Kunming meeting was conducted at an official level and had no political or alliance-building agenda. “We are not forming any alliance,” he emphasized.
India unlikely to join new bloc
Diplomatic sources cited in the report suggest that India may be invited to join the new grouping, though it is considered unlikely due to its differing regional interests. While India has historically used SAARC as a platform for connectivity and integration, it has faced continual roadblocks from Pakistan.
India suspended the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme for Pakistani officials following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Moreover, initiatives like the SAARC Development Fund and the South Asian University were Indian-led efforts to foster collaboration.
Pakistan’s veto power stalled SAARC progress
Pakistan has used its SAARC veto to block initiatives such as the Motor Vehicles Agreement, which would have facilitated cross-border movement of goods and people. As a result, India joined Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal in launching the BBIN (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal) Motor Vehicles Agreement in 2015.
India, along with Nepal and Bhutan, has continued regional projects under alternative frameworks, focusing on infrastructure, disaster management, and renewable energy.
With SAARC inactive and member nations divided, the new China-Pakistan proposal may signal a shift in regional alliances, though its long-term viability remains uncertain.
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Good decision. Time to stop all roads, air & water to these countries. India the phoenix is rising !!