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The recent controversy surrounding tourism between India and the Maldives has been making headlines. You must have heard about this issue somewhere on social media or in the news. But did you know that both India and the Maldives are part of SAARC?

SAARC stands for The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. It was established on 8th December 1985 in Dhaka. SAARC has 8 member states: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. The SAARC Secretariat was set up in 1987 in Kathmandu.

SAARC’s objective is to improve the welfare and quality of life of the people of South Asia, accelerate economic and social progress, enhance mutual reliance and understanding, and cooperate in economic, social, cultural, technical, and scientific fields. It also aims to increase cooperation with developing countries and international organizations.

Given the current circumstances in South Asia and the relations between India and Pakistan, along with the influence of global organizations like BRICS, do you think SAARC is still relevant?

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