REVIVAL OF SAARC: PROSPECTS, CHALLENGES AND WAY FORWARD

The paper “Revival of SAARC: Prospects, Challenges and Way Forward” explores the urgent need to rejuvenate the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) amid changing geopolitical realities in South Asia. It highlights how political rivalries, particularly between India and Pakistan, economic disparities, and external power influences have stagnated SAARC’s effectiveness since its last summit in 2014. Despite these challenges, the study emphasizes SAARC’s continued relevance as a platform for regional integration, economic collaboration, and social connectivity among South Asian nations. The authors argue that through renewed political will, institutional reform, and enhanced people-to-people engagement, SAARC can overcome long-standing structural and political barriers to emerge as a viable mechanism for peace, stability, and prosperity in the region.