1. SAARC and Regional Cooperation in South Asia Dr. Nishchal N. Pandey

2. History Set-up in 1985 to promote welfare of the people and improve their quality of life 17 Summits till date, little progress on trade, investment, cooperation Has succeeded in generating South Asian consciousness

3. Areas of Work Agriculture Bio-technology Culture Education Scholarships Visa-Exemption scheme Environment People to People contacts

4. Economic Cooperation Agreed on SAPTA but could not realize its objectives SAFTA is too slow and restrictive (sensitive lists) Vision of a customs union, common market and economic union Poor connectivity and poor border infrastructure

5. Hurdles for Regional Cooperation Indo-Pak hostility (3 wars since 1947) Tit for tat game has affected SAARC’s progress Pakistan accuses India of aggression in Kashmir, India accuses Pak. Of externally sponsored terror India also accuses Pak. Of fake currency which Pak. Has denied India’s relations with smaller neighbors also function like traffic lights LTTE, Nepali Maoists, Bangladesh Liberation, Insurgencies and terrorism, Afghanistan’s insecurity Individual state(s) have not left their nationalistic postures Need for an European model of supra-national body

6. Examples of Some Achievements Periodic Summits and Retreats have provided avenues for meetings Connectivity has increased South Asian University Apex Bodies and Recognized bodies are doing good work Common policy in international forums

7. Weak Secretariat Powerless and weak secretariat 8 Directors representing their foreign ministries Secretary General only senior among equals, unlike ASEAN-OAU-Arab League or EU Charter is restrictive on bilateral issues and internal political issues. Mandatory on consensus approach

8. Observers of SAARC Afghanistan was inducted as 8 th member at the 13 th Summit held in 2005 in Dhaka. China and Japan were included as Observers in the same Summit Mauritius, Iran, U.S., EU, Australia, Myanmar, China, Japan, Korea are 9 Observers Observers want more role and authority China-South Asia Fourms