BANGLADESH INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AND STRATEGIC STUDIES

POSTPONEMENT OF SAARC SUMMITS: AN ANALYSIS AND PROGNOSIS

Author: Hosna lahan Shewly

DOI Link: DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.56888/BIISSj2005v26n2a4

ABSTRACT

The idea of regionalism in South Asia was first mooted by Bangladesh and South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) started functioning since December 1985. Though SAARC provided a hope to promote economic cooperation, the mistrust among the member states and lack of political will led to frequent postponements of SAARC summits from the very outset. The paper attempted to find out the causes of the postponements and analysed the background and different circumstances of rescheduling those summits. The paper also pointed out some political circumstances which could have led setback 10 SAARC but actually they did not. It argues that the organization is a victim of bilateral impediments and India's neighbourhood policy. It is also clear from the twenty years of SAARC process that if things do not conform to Indian interests, the postponements may recur. Finally the paper suggests some ways and means to avoid postponement of SAARC summit.