India on Tuesday said it remains committed to strengthening regional cooperation through the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), while taking a veiled swipe at Pakistan over the factors it believes have prevented the grouping from making progress. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that India has consistently supported closer cooperation among South Asian nations for several decades but stressed that meaningful collaboration requires trust, goodwill and a commitment from all member states. Responding to questions during the regular media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that India supports stronger regional engagement and has worked towards promoting cooperation in South Asia.
However, he pointed out that countries in the region are aware of the issues affecting SAARC’s functioning. “When it comes to regional cooperation, India favours strong regional cooperation and has been working towards it for several decades now. Everyone in South Asia is aware of which country and what activities are actually stymying SAARC... After all, cooperation does require goodwill,” Jaiswal said. The remarks came after Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu called for the revival of the SAARC process and urged member countries to resolve differences through dialogue. Addressing an Independence Day ceremony marking 61 years of Maldives’ independence, Muizzu highlighted the importance of regional unity and cooperation.
He said South Asian countries should return to the negotiating table and work together in the interest of peace, stability and development. SAARC, which was established in 1985, comprises eight member countries — Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The regional organisation was created with the objective of promoting economic cooperation, improving connectivity and strengthening cultural and diplomatic ties among South Asian nations. However, political disagreements and security concerns between member states have significantly slowed its progress in recent years.
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Relations between India and Pakistan have been one of the major challenges affecting the functioning of SAARC. India has repeatedly accused Pakistan of supporting cross-border terrorism, alleging that such activities have prevented normal diplomatic engagement between the two countries. Islamabad has rejected these allegations and has maintained that dialogue should continue on bilateral issues. The diplomatic tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours have had a direct impact on SAARC’s activities. The organisation’s last summit was held in Kathmandu, Nepal, in 2014. A scheduled summit in Islamabad in 2016 was postponed after India decided not to participate following a terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir.
Several other member countries also stayed away, resulting in the cancellation of the summit. Since then, efforts to revive high-level SAARC meetings have faced repeated challenges. While member countries continue to participate in limited regional initiatives, the organisation has not been able to achieve major progress on economic integration, trade cooperation or regional connectivity projects due to ongoing political differences. India has previously maintained that regional cooperation mechanisms can succeed only when there is an environment free from terrorism and hostility. New Delhi has argued that countries must demonstrate genuine commitment to peace and stability for SAARC to become effective again. The latest comments from the MEA reflect India’s position that cooperation cannot move forward without addressing fundamental concerns affecting regional trust.
Meanwhile, Maldives has emerged as one of the countries advocating for renewed SAARC engagement. President Muizzu’s appeal reflects concerns among smaller South Asian nations that prolonged political disputes are limiting opportunities for economic growth and collective development. The Maldives has emphasised the importance of dialogue as a way to resolve disagreements and rebuild regional cooperation. India’s response suggests that while it remains supportive of SAARC’s objectives, it believes progress depends on addressing unresolved issues among member states. As South Asian countries continue to face shared challenges, including economic pressures, climate concerns and security threats, the future effectiveness of SAARC will depend on whether members can rebuild trust and create conditions for meaningful cooperation.
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