Abstract
The article begins with an examination of the many weaknesses of SAARC, such as its restrictive agenda and its weak Secretariat. The lack of a dispute settlement mechanism within SAARC has impacted adversely on regional peace, security and development. The asymmetrical configuration of the region, with India both dominant and centrally located, has resulted in the Indian regional policy of bilateralism instead of a regional approach. Several important SAARC initiatives in the past have met with a lack of enthusiasm about making them operational. Thus, the major decisions taken at the 12th SAARC Summit in Islamabad were remarkable, and reflected a refreshing combination of realism about current feasibility and ambitiousness about future aims. The article makes several recommendations: giving SAARC an effective institutional support base; broadening the SAARC agenda to facilitate discussions on all issues that create tension and mistrust among the regional countries; and involving non-governmental groups in promoting regional cooperation.
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