Dr Satyawan Saurabh
As a founding member of SAARC, India has consistently taken initiatives for regional cooperation. However, despite India’s efforts, the organization has struggled to achieve its goals, resulting in limited effectiveness over the years. India has been playing a central role in advancing economic cooperation, connectivity, and regional development within SAARC. India has been instrumental in the South Asian Free Trade Area Agreement, which aimed to promote intra-regional trade. India has led SAARC’s efforts to combat terrorism and cross-border threats, proposing a number of security cooperation initiatives. India led the creation of the SAARC Regional Conference on Suppression of Terrorism in 1987. However, despite these efforts, SAARC’s effectiveness remains limited due to a number of challenges.
Despite SAFTA, intra-SAARC trade remains below 5%, reflecting poor economic integration and limited success in realizing SAARC’s economic potential. India’s trade with ASEAN exceeds its trade with SAARC countries, underscoring SAARC’s failure to foster significant economic ties. Major political differences, particularly between India and Pakistan, have disrupted summit-level interactions, stalling decision-making. The 2016 SAARC summit was postponed indefinitely due to tensions between India and Pakistan, signaling a breakdown of political cohesion. SAARC’s decision-making process requires consensus, which has slowed initiatives as disagreements among member countries often stall progress.
The SAARC Motor Vehicles Agreement has not been implemented due to Pakistan’s objections, stalling regional connectivity efforts. Ongoing geopolitical tensions between India and Pakistan have often derailed SAARC initiatives and limited its overall effectiveness. India boycotted the SAARC summit in 2016 due to the Uri attack, further setting back regional cooperation. Widespread economic differences between SAARC members, particularly India and smaller economies, have made it challenging to achieve equitable economic cooperation. India’s GDP is eight times that of Pakistan, leading to imbalances in trade negotiations and expectations. SAARC agreements often face significant delays in implementation due to a lack of political will and capacity. The SAARC Food Bank, created to ensure food security, has had little practical impact as it is underutilized.
Many SAARC countries are dependent on external powers such as China for economic and strategic support, weakening SAARC’s internal cooperation. Nepal and Sri Lanka’s growing dependence on Chinese infrastructure projects has weakened SAARC’s regional unity. SAARC lacks a strong supranational body to enforce decisions or ensure compliance, making it ineffective in implementing regional policies. Unlike the European Union, SAARC does not have institutions empowered to enforce decisions or resolve disputes.
India can focus on strengthening bilateral ties with individual SAARC members, fostering trust and cooperation that can lead to greater multilateral success. India’s recent efforts with Bangladesh on connectivity and trade have improved bilateral cooperation despite SAARC’s limited progress. India can lead efforts to reform SAARC’s decision-making process, advocating majority-based decisions rather than consensus, which often prevents progress. India can propose reforms similar to the BIMSTEC mechanism, which has allowed greater flexibility in regional agreements. India can strive for deeper economic integration by enhancing trade facilitation, connectivity projects, and investment within the SAARC framework.
India’s BBIN initiative on transport connectivity with Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal circumvents Pakistan’s reluctance and demonstrates the potential of sub-regional cooperation. India can leverage cultural diplomacy, educational exchange, and tourism to strengthen socio-cultural ties among SAARC countries. India’s SAARC scholarships for students from member countries have promoted academic and cultural exchange. India should continue to invest in infrastructure projects that enhance connectivity across the region, facilitating trade and people-to-people contacts. The India-Nepal rail link project exemplifies India’s commitment to improving regional connectivity, even if SAARC-level initiatives have stalled.
Despite the organization’s challenges, India’s important role in SAARC presents opportunities for reform. By promoting bilateral cooperation, fostering regional integration, and advancing structural reforms, India can revitalize SAARC and enhance South Asia’s stability and growth prospects.
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