SAARC was established in 1985 at Dhaka in Bangladesh. In this the heads of seven nations (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Maldives) formed a union named South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. The secretariat of SAARC is in the capital of Nepal, Kathmandu. Afghanistan is the eighth member of this organization. Till now 18 summits have taken place by November 2014. 19th summit is to be organised in Pakistan.
The Objectives of SAARC
- Promote the welfare of the people of South Asia and improve their quality of life.
- Accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region by providing all individuals, the opportunity to live in dignity and realise their full potential.
- Promote and strengthen collective self reliance among the countries of South Asia.
- Strengthen cooperation with other developing countries.
- Contribute to mutual trust, understanding and sensitivity to one another’s problems.
- Promote active collaboration and mutual assistance in the economic, social, cultural, technical and scientific fields.
- Cooperate with international and regional organisations having similar aims and purposes.
Principles of SAARC
- Sovereign equality, territorial integrity, national independence, non-use of force and non interference in the internal affairs of other states.
- Bilateral and multilateral cooperation.
- Reaffirming their determination to promote such cooperation within an institutional framework.