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Abstract
This article examines the repeated postponements of SAARC summits, analysing political, security, and procedural causes. It reviews how bilateral tensions—particularly between India and Pakistan—spill into regional multilateralism, undermining collective agendas. The paper traces the consequences of summit delays on economic cooperation, people-to-people connectivity, and SAARC’s credibility as a regional body. It argues that the persistent cycle of postponements illustrates both structural fragility and the absence of effective dispute resolution mechanisms. The prognosis section explores potential reforms, including informal ministerial tracks, technical committees, and civil society networks, as ways to maintain momentum when summits stall.
Full Text
The body first chronicles the history of SAARC summits, identifying instances of postponement and the reasons cited. Section One analyses the India–Pakistan factor, with attention to crises such as Kargil and Kashmir. Section Two assesses how security incidents, regime changes, and domestic political calendars contributed to delays. Section Three evaluates the costs: stalled projects, wasted diplomatic capital, and erosion of trust among smaller members. Section Four outlines reform proposals: insulating technical cooperation from politics, creating fallback mechanisms for decisions, and enhancing parliamentary and civil society engagement. The conclusion warns that without structural changes, SAARC risks continued marginalisation in a global order that prizes functional, dependable regionalism.