Timeline of SAARC (1970s – Present)

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is an intergovernmental organization promoting economic, social, and cultural cooperation among South Asian countries.

Key Timeline of SAARC

Late 1970s – Early 1980s — Idea of regional cooperation in South Asia emerges, proposed by Bangladesh’s President Ziaur Rahman in 1980. Discussions occur among leaders of Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and Maldives.
April 1981 — First meeting of Foreign Secretaries from the seven founding countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka) in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
August 1983 — Foreign Ministers adopt the Declaration on South Asian Regional Cooperation (SARC) in New Delhi, India, launching the Integrated Programme of Action (IPA) in areas like agriculture, rural development, telecommunications, meteorology, and health.
December 8, 1985 — SAARC is formally established with the signing/adoption of the SAARC Charter at the 1st SAARC Summit in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Founding members: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka.
January 17, 1987 — SAARC Secretariat established in Kathmandu, Nepal (permanent headquarters).
1993 — Agreement on SAARC Preferential Trading Arrangement (SAPTA) signed (entered into force later).
2004 — Agreement on the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) signed.
2006 — SAFTA enters into force/operationalized, aiming to reduce customs duties and promote intra-regional trade.
April 2007 — Afghanistan joins as the 8th member during the 14th SAARC Summit in New Delhi, India.
2014 — 18th (and last full) SAARC Summit held in Kathmandu, Nepal. Key outcomes include the SAARC Framework Agreement on Energy Cooperation (Electricity). No heads-of-state summits have occurred since due to geopolitical tensions (primarily between India and Pakistan).
2016 — 19th SAARC Summit (planned in Islamabad, Pakistan) postponed/canceled following India’s boycott amid cross-border tensions.
Post-2016 — SAARC remains largely dormant/inactive at the summit level. No formal summits held; progress limited to lower-level meetings, technical committees, and occasional informal foreign minister interactions (often hosted by Nepal).
2020s — Organization continues to function minimally through the Secretariat. Some calls for revival emerge, including from Bangladesh and civil society. In 2025, SAARC commemorated its 40th anniversary (December 8, 2025) with messages from leaders and the Secretariat highlighting past achievements and future potential, though full reactivation faces ongoing challenges from regional tensions.

SAARC currently has 8 member states and 9 observers (including Australia, China, EU, Iran, Japan, South Korea, Mauritius, Myanmar, and the US). While it has achieved milestones in areas like poverty alleviation, disaster management, and cultural exchanges, political differences, especially India-Pakistan relations, have stalled high-level progress since 2014. Some member states have shifted focus to sub-regional alternatives like BIMSTEC.