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===Observers===
<ref name=obs>{{citeweb|url=http://saarc-sec.org/Cooperation-with-Observers/13/|title=Cooperation with Observers|accessdate=2014-03-08|publisher=South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation}}</ref>
* {{flagu|Australia}}<ref name=australia>[http://www.colombopage.com/archive_08/July3042729CH.html colombopage.com]</ref>
* {{flagu|China}}
* {{flagu|European Union}}<ref name="observers">[http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullstory.asp?filename=6a6Za3za.9amal&folder=aHaoamW&Name=Home&dtSiteDate=20060802 thehimalayantimes.com]</ref>
* {{flagu|Japan}}<ref name="observers"/>
* {{flagu|Iran}}
* {{flagu|Mauritius}}<ref name="mauritius">[http://www.island.lk/2008/07/23/news2.html island.lk]</ref>
* {{flagu|Myanmar}}
* {{flagu|South Korea}}
* {{flagu|United States}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.saarc-sec.org/Cooperation-with-Observers/13/|title=Cooperation with Observers|accessdate=16 November 2012|publisher=South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation}}</ref>


===Potential future members===
===Potential future members===

Revision as of 07:14, 28 May 2014

South Asia Association for Regional
Cooperation (SAARC)
  • সাউথ এশিয়ান এসোসিয়েশন ফর রিজিওনাল কো-অপারেশন (সার্ক) (Bengali)
  • Error {{native name}}: a name as parameter {{{2}}} is required (help)
  • اتحادیه همکاری‌های منطقه‌ای جنوب آسی (Dari)
  • ދެކުނު އޭޝިޔާގެ ސަރަޙައްދީ އެއްބާރުލުމުގެ ޖަމިއްޔާ (Divehi)
  • दक्षिण एशियाई क्षेत्रीय सहयोग संगठन (दक्षेस) (Hindi)
  • दक्षिण एशियाली क्षेत्रीय सहयोग संगठन (सार्क) (Nepali)
  • د سویلي اسیا لپاره د سیمه ایزی همکارۍ ټولنه (Pashto)
  • දකුණු ආසියාතික කලාපීය සහයෝගිතා සංවිධානය (Sinhala)
  • தெற்காசிய நாடுகளின் பிராந்தியக் கூட்டமைப்பு (சார்க்) (Tamil)
  • جنوبی ایشیائی علاقائی تعاون کی تنظیم (Urdu)
Logo of South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) সাউথ এশিয়ান এসোসিয়েশন ফর রিজিওনাল কো-অপারেশন (সার্ক) (Bengali) Error {{native name}}: a name as parameter {{{2}}} is required (help) اتحادیه همکاری‌های منطقه‌ای جنوب آسی (Dari) ދެކުނު އޭޝިޔާގެ ސަރަޙައްދީ އެއްބާރުލުމުގެ ޖަމިއްޔާ (Divehi) दक्षिण एशियाई क्षेत्रीय सहयोग संगठन (दक्षेस) (Hindi) दक्षिण एशियाली क्षेत्रीय सहयोग संगठन (सार्क) (Nepali) د سویلي اسیا لپاره د سیمه ایزی همکارۍ ټولنه (Pashto) දකුණු ආසියාතික කලාපීය සහයෝගිතා සංවිධානය (Sinhala) தெற்காசிய நாடுகளின் பிராந்தியக் கூட்டமைப்பு (சார்க்) (Tamil) جنوبی ایشیائی علاقائی تعاون کی تنظیم (Urdu)
Logo
  Member states
  Observer states
HeadquartersNepal Kathmandu, Nepal
Official languagesEnglish
Membership
Leaders
Arjun Bahadur Thapa[1]
• Directors
 Afghanistan Ibrahim Ghafoori [2]
 Bangladesh Tareque Muhammad[3]
 Bhutan Singye Dorjee [4]
 India Amrit Lugun[5]
 Maldives Ibrahim Zuhuree[6]
   Nepal Dhan Oli[7]
 Pakistan Ahmar Ismail[8]
 Sri Lanka Prasanna Gamage[9]
 Maldives
Establishment8 December 1985
Website
www.saarc-sec.org
  1. If considered as a single entity.
  2. A unified currency has been proposed.

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is an economic and geopolitical cooperation among eight member nations that are primarily located in South Asia continent.[10] Its secretariat is headquartered in Kathmandu, Nepal.[11]

The idea of regional political and economical cooperation in South Asia was first coined in 1980 and the first summit held in Dhaka on 8 December in 1985 led to its official establishment by the governments of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.[12][13] In the intervening years, its successors have grown in size by the accession of new member states.[12] Afghanistan was the first to have been accessed in the physical enlargement of the SAARC in 2007.[14]

The SAARC policies aim to promote welfare economics, collective self-reliance among the countries of South Asia, and to accelerate socio-cultural development in the region.[15] The SAARC has developed a role in external relations around the world. Permanent diplomatic relations have been established with the EU, the UN (as an observer), and other multilateral entities.[15] On annual scheduled basis, the official meetings of leaders of each nation are held; meetings of foreign secretaries, twice annually.[15] The 18th SAARC Summit would be held at Kathmandu, Nepal in November 2014.[16]

History

The idea of regional co-operation in South Asia was discussed in at least three conferences: the Asian Relations Conference held in New Delhi on April 1947; the Baguio Conference in the Philippines on May 1950; and the Colombo Powers Conference held in Sri Lanka on April 1954.

In the ending years of 1970s, the seven inner South Asian nations that included Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka agreed upon the creation of a trade bloc and to provide a platform for the people of South Asia to work together in a spirit of friendship, trust and understanding. Efforts towards establishing the union was first mooted by the Late King Birendra Shah of Nepal. President Ziaur Rahman later addressed official letters to the leaders of the countries of the South Asia, presenting his vision for the future of the region and the compelling arguments for region.[12] During his visit to India in December 1977, President Ziaur Rahman discussed the issue of regional cooperation with the Indian Prime Minister, Morarji Desai. In the inaugural speech to the Colombo Plan Consultative Committee which met in Kathmandu also in 1977, King Birendra of Nepal gave a call for close regional cooperation among South Asian countries in sharing river waters.[17] After the USSR's intervention in Afghanistan, the efforts to established the union was accelerated in 1979 and the resulting rapid deterioration of South Asian security situation.[17] Responding to the President Zia Rehman and King Birendra's convention, the officials of the foreign ministries of the seven countries met for the first time in Colombo in April 1981.[17] The Bangladesh's proposal was promptly endorsed by Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and the Maldives but India and Pakistan were skeptical initially.[17] The Indian concern was the proposal’s reference to the security matters in South Asia and feared that President Zia Rehman's proposal for a regional organization might provide an opportunity for new smaller neighbors to renationalized all bilateral issues and to join with each other to gang up against India. Pakistan assumed that it might be an Indian strategy to organize the other South Asian countries against Pakistan and ensure a regional market for Indian products, thereby consolidating and further strengthening India’s economic dominance in the region.[17]

However, after a series of quiet diplomatic consultations between South Asian foreign ministers at the UN headquarters in New York from August to September 1980, it was agreed that Bangladesh would prepare the draft of a working paper for discussion among the foreign secretaries of South Asian countries.[17] The foreign secretaries of inner seven countries again delegated a Committee of the Whole in Colombo on September 1981, which identified five broad areas for regional cooperation. New areas of co-operation were added in the following years.[18]

In 1983, the International conference held by Indian Minister of External Affairs PVN Rao in New Delhi, the foreign ministers of the inner seven countries adopted the Declaration on South Asian Association Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and formally launched the Integrated Programme of Action (IPA) initially in five agreed areas of cooperation namely, Agriculture; Rural Development; Telecommunications; Meteorology; and Health and Population Activities.[19]

Officially, the union was established in Dhaka with Kathmandu being union's secretariat-general.[20] The first SAARC summit was held in Dhaka on 7–8 December 1985 and hosted by the President of Bangladesh Hussain Ershad.[13] The declaration signed by King of Bhutan Jigme Singye, President of Pakistan Zia-ul-Haq, Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi, King of Nepal Birendra Shah, President of Sri Lanka JR Jayewardene, and President of Maldives Maumoon Gayoom.[13]

Enlargement

In 2005, Afghanistan began negotiating of joining the SAARC and applied for the membership the same year.[21][22] The issue of Afghanistan joining the SAARC generated a great deal of debate in each state, and many analysts raised questions about the notion of the malleability of South Asian identity because of Afghanistan being a Central Asian country.[23]

The SAARC member states imposed a stipulation for Afghanistan to hold a general election; the non-partisan elections were held in late 2005.[23] In 2007, Afghanistan joined the SAARC as an eighth member state, despite initial reluctance and internal debates.[23] The inclusion of Afghanistan as SAARC member was announced in New Delhi on 4 April 2007 by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.[23]

Members and observers

Afghanistan was added to the regional grouping on April 2007,[24] With the addition of Afghanistan, the total number of member states were raised to eight (8). In April 2006, the United States of America and South Korea made formal requests to be granted observer status. The European Union has also indicated interest in being given observer status, and made a formal request for the same to the SAARC Council of Ministers meeting in July 2006.[25][26] On 2 August 2006 the foreign ministers of the SAARC countries agreed in principle to grant observer status to the US, South Korea and the European Union.[26] On 4 March 2008, Iran requested observer status.[27] Followed shortly by the entrance of Mauritius. Myanmar has expressed interest in upgrading its status from an observer to a full member of SAARC,[28] while Russia is interested in becoming an observer.[29][30]

Secretariat

Secretariat of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation in Kathmandu, Nepal

The SAARC Secretariat was established in Kathmandu on 16 January 1987 and was inaugurated by Late King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah of Nepal.

It is headed by the Secretary General appointed by the Council of Ministers from Member Countries in an alphabetical order for a three-year term. He is assisted by the Professional and the General Service Staff, and also an appropriate number of functional units called Divisions assigned to Directors on deputation from Member States.[31] The Secretariat coordinates and monitors implementation of activities, prepares for and services meetings, and serves as a channel of communication between the Association and its Member States as well as other regional organisations.[31]

The Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of the Secretariat[31] which was signed by Foreign Ministers of member countries on 17 November 1986 at Bangalore, India contains various clauses concerning the role, structure and administration of the SAARC Secretariat as well as the powers of the Secretary-General.

The SAARC Secretariat and Member States observe 8 December as the SAARC Charter Day. Nepal’s former foreign secretary Arjun Bahadur Thapa is current Secretary General of SAARC.[1]

Regional Centres

The SAARC Secretariat is supported by following Regional Centres established in Member States to promote regional co-operation. These Centres are managed by Governing Boards comprising representatives from all the Member States, SAARC Secretary-General and the Ministry of Foreign/External Affairs of the Host Government. The Director of the Centre acts as Member Secretary to the Governing Board which reports to the Programming Committee.

  • SAARC Agricultural Centre (SAC), Dhaka
  • SAARC Meteorological Research Centre (SMRC), Dhaka
  • SAARC Tuberculosis Centre (STC), Kathmandu
  • SAARC Documentation Centre (SDC), New Delhi
  • SAARC Human Resources Development Centre (SHRDC), Islamabad
  • SAARC Coastal Zone Management Centre (SCZMC), Maldives
  • SAARC Information Centre (SIC), Nepal
  • SAARC Energy Centre (SEC), Pakistan
  • SAARC Disaster Management Centre (SDMC), India
  • SAARC Development Fund (SDF), Bhutan
  • SAARC Forestry Centre (SFC), Bhutan
  • SAARC Cultural Centre (SCC), Sri Lanka[32]

Apex and Recognised Bodies

SAARC has six Apex Bodies,[33] namely, SAARC Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI), SAARCLAW (South Asian Association For Regional Cooperation In Law),[34] South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA), South Asia Foundation (SAF), South Asia Initiative to End Violence Against Children (SAIEVAC), Foundation of SAARC Writers and Literature (FOSWAL)

Hemant Batra is the current incumbent Secretary General of SAARCLAW.

SAARC also has about 17 recognised bodies.[33]

Political issues

Lasting peace and prosperity of the Indian subcontinent has been elusive due to the various ongoing conflicts and in the region. Political dialogue is often conducted on the margins of SAARC meetings which have refrained from interfering in the internal matters of its member states.[35] During the 12th and 13th SAARC summits, extreme emphasis was laid upon greater co-operation between the SAARC members to fight terrorism.[36][37]

South Asian Free Trade Area

Countries under the South Asian Free Trade Area

SAFTA was envisaged primarily as the first step towards the transition to a South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) leading subsequently towards a Customs Union, Common Market and Economic Union. In 1995, the Sixteenth session of the Council of Ministers (New Delhi, 18–19 December 1995) agreed on the need to strive for the realisation of SAFTA and to this end an Inter-Governmental Expert Group (IGEG) was set up in 1996 to identify the necessary steps for progressing to a free trade area. The Tenth SAARC Summit (Colombo, 29–31 July 1998) decided to set up a Committee of Experts (COE) to draft a comprehensive treaty framework for creating a free trade area within the region, taking into consideration the asymmetries in development within the region and bearing in mind the need to fix realistic and achievable targets. The SAFTA Agreement was signed on 6 January 2004 during Twelfth SAARC Summit held in Islamabad, Pakistan. The Agreement entered into force on 1 January 2006, and the Trade Liberalization Programme commenced from 1 July 2006. Under this agreement, SAARC members will bring their duties down to 20 per cent by 2009. Following the Agreement coming into force the SAFTA Ministerial Council (SMC) has been established comprising the Commerce Ministers of the Member States.[38]

SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme

The SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme was launched in 1992. The leaders at the Fourth Summit (Islamabad, 29–31 December 1988), while realising the importance of having people to people contacts, among the peoples of SAARC countries, decided that certain categories of dignitaries should be entitled to a Special Travel document, which would exempt them from visas within the region. As directed by the Summit, the Council of Ministers regularly kept under review the list of entitled categories. Currently the list included 24 categories of entitled persons, which include Dignitaries, Judges of higher courts, Parliamentarians, Senior Officials, Businessmen, Journalists, Sportsmen etc. The Visa Stickers are issued by the respective Member States to the entitled categories of that particular country. The validity of the Visa Sticker is generally for one year. The implementation is reviewed regularly by the Immigration Authorities of SAARC Member States.[39]

Awards

SAARC Award

The Twelfth Summit (Islamabad, January 2004) approved the institution of the SAARC Award to honour and encourage outstanding individuals and organisations within the region. The main objectives of the SAARC Award are:

  • To encourage individuals and organisations based in South Asia to undertake programmes and activities complementing the efforts of SAARC
  • To encourage individuals and organisations in South Asia contributing to the improvement of the conditions of women and children
  • To honour outstanding contributions and achievements of individuals and organisations within the region in the fields of peace, development, poverty alleviation, environment protection and regional co-operation making the SAARC Award the most prestigious Award in the region; and
  • To honour any other outstanding contributions and achievements, not covered above, of individuals and organisations in the region.

The SAARC Award comprises a gold medal, a letter of citation and cash prize of US $ 25,000. Since institution of SAARC Award in 2004, it has been awarded only once and the Award was posthumoulsy conferred upon Late President Ziaur Rahman of Bangladesh.[40]

SAARC Literary Award

SAARC Literary Award is an annual award conferred by the Foundation of SAARC (South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation) Writers and Literature (FOSWAL) since 2001[41][42] which is an apex SAARC body.[43] Shamshur Rahman, Mahasweta Devi, Jayanta Mahapatra, Mark Tully, Abhay K are some of the prominent recipients of this award.[44]

SAARC Youth Award

The SAARC Youth Award is awarded to outstanding individuals from the SAARC region. The award is notable due to the recognition it gives to the Award winner in the SAARC region. The award is based on specific themes which apply to each year. The award recognises and promotes the commitment and talent of the youth who give back to the world at large through various initiatives such as Inventions, Protection of the Environment and Disaster relief. The recipients who receive this award are ones who have dedicated their lives to their individual causes to improve situations in their own countries as well as paving a path for the SAARC region to follow. The Committee for the SAARC Youth Award selects the best candidate based on his/her merits and their decision is final.

Previous Winners:

  • 1997: Outstanding Social Service in Community Welfare – Mohammed Sukur Salek (Bangladesh)
  • 1998: New Inventions and Shanu - Najmul Hasnain Shah (Pakistan)
  • 2001: Creative Photography: South Asian Diversity – Mushfiqul Alam (Bangladesh)
  • 2002: Outstanding contribution to protect the Environment – Masil Khan (Pakistan)
  • 2003: Invention in the Field of Traditional Medicine – Hassan Sher (Pakistan)
  • 2004: Outstanding contribution to raising awareness for TB and/or HIV/AIDS – Ajij Prasad Poudyal (Nepal)
  • 2006: Promotion of Tourism in South Asia – Syed Zafar Abbas Naqvi (Pakistan)
  • 2008: Protecting the Environment in South Asia – Uswatta Liyanage Deepani Jayantha (Sri Lanka)
  • 2009: Outstanding contribution to humanitarian works in the aftermath of Natural Disasters – Ravikant Singh (India)
  • 2010: Outstanding contribution for the Protection of Environment and mitigation of Climate Change – Anoka Primrose Abeyrathne (Sri Lanka)

SAARC Anthem

SAARC does not have an official anthem yet as other regional organizations such as ASEAN. However a poem by poet-diplomat Abhay K has spurred search for an official SAARC Anthem [45]

Members of SAARC

MaldivesBangladeshBhutanNepalSri LankaIndiaMyanmarThailandCambodiaLaosVietnamBruneiIndonesiaMalaysiaPhilippinesSingaporeAfghanistanPakistanTurkmenistanIranAzerbaijanKazakhstanUzbekistanKyrgyzstanTajikistanChinaRussiaTurkeyJapanMongoliaSouth KoreaBahrainKuwaitOmanQatarSaudi ArabiaUnited Arab EmiratesSouth Asian Association for Regional CooperationBay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic CooperationMekong–Ganga CooperationAssociation of Southeast Asian NationsShanghai Cooperation OrganisationOrganization of Turkic StatesEconomic Cooperation OrganizationGulf Cooperation CouncilAsia Cooperation Dialogue
A clickable Euler diagram showing the relationships between various Asian regional organisations v • d • e

ghanta nhadev da

har har mhadev

Potential future members

  •  China has expressed interest in establishing special relations with SAARC, and is supported by Pakistan.
  •  Myanmar has expressed interest in upgrading its status from an observer to a full member of SAARC.[28]
  •  Russia has applied for observer status membership of SAARC.[46][47][29][30]
  •  Turkey has applied for observer status membership of SAARC in 2012.[48][49][29][30]

Others

  •  South Africa has participated in meetings.[50]

Secretaries-General of SAARC

Bangladesh Abul Ahsan 16 January 1985 to 15 October 1989
India Kishore Kant Bhargava 17 October 1989 to 31 December 1991
Maldives Ibrahim Hussain Zaki 1 January 1992 to 31 December 1993
Nepal Yadav Kant Silwal 1 January 1994 to 31 December 1995
Pakistan Naeem U. Hasan 1 January 1996 to 31 December 1998
Sri Lanka Nihal Rodrigo 1 January 1999 to 10 January 2002
Bangladesh Q.A.M.A. Rahim 11 January 2002 to 28 February 2005
Bhutan Lyonpo Chenkyab Dorji 1 March 2005 to 29 February 2008
India Sheel Kant Sharma 1 March 2008 to 28 February 2011
Maldives Fathimath Dhiyana Saeed 1 March 2011 to 11 March 2012
Maldives Ahmed Saleem 12 March 2012 to 28 February 2014[51]
Nepal Arjun Bahadur Thapa 01 March 2014- 2017[16]

SAARC summits

No Date Country Host Host leader
1st 7–8 December 1985  Bangladesh Dhaka Ataur Rahman Khan
2nd 16–17 November 1986  India Bangalore Jayanth M Gowda
3rd 2–4 November 1987    Nepal Kathmandu Marich Man Singh Shrestha
4th 29–31 December 1988  Pakistan Islamabad Benazir Bhutto
5th 21–23 November 1990  Maldives Malé Maumoon Abdul Gayoom
6th 21 December 1991  Sri Lanka Colombo Ranasinghe Premadasa
7th 10–11 April 1993  Bangladesh Dhaka Khaleda Zia
8th 2–4 May 1995  India New Delhi P. V. Narasimha Rao
9th 12–14 May 1997  Maldives Malé Maumoon Abdul Gayoom
10th 29–31 July 1998  Sri Lanka Colombo Chandrika Kumaratunga
11th 4–6 January 2002    Nepal Kathmandu Sher Bahadur Deuba
12th 2–6 January 2004  Pakistan Islamabad Zafarullah Khan Jamali
13th 12–13 November 2005  Bangladesh Dhaka Khaleda Zia
14th 3–4 April 2007  India New Delhi Manmohan Singh
15th 1–3 August 2008  Sri Lanka Colombo Mahinda Rajapaksa
16th 28–29 April 2010  Bhutan Thimphu Jigme Thinley
17th 10–11 November 2011[52]  Maldives Addu Mohammed Nasheed
18th November 2014[16]    Nepal Kathmandu Sushil Koirala

Governance and Leadership of SAARC

SAARC leaders at the swearing-in ceremony of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Image Officeholder Title State Party
Hamid Karzai President  Afghanistan Independent
File:Sheikh Hassina Cropped UNCTAD.JPG Sheikh Hasina Prime Minister  Bangladesh Awami League
Tshering Tobgay Prime Minister  Bhutan People's Democratic Party
Narendra Modi Prime Minister  India Bharatiya Janta Party
File:President abdulla yameen.jpg Abdulla Yameen President  Maldives Progressive Party of Maldives
Sushil Koirala Prime Minister  Nepal Nepali Congress
Nawaz Sharif Prime Minister  Pakistan Pakistan Muslim League (N)
Mahinda Rajapaksa President  Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Freedom Party

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Nepal's Arjun Bahadur Thapa is SAARC's new Secretary General". IANS. news.biharprabha.com. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  2. ^ Directorates. "Directors of SAARC-Afghanistan". Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  3. ^ "Directors of SAARC-Bangladesh". Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  4. ^ "Directors of SAARC-Bhutan". Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  5. ^ "Directors of SAARC-India". Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  6. ^ "Directors of SAARC". Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  7. ^ "Directors of SAARC-Nepal". Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  8. ^ "Directors of SAARC-Pakistan". Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  9. ^ "Directors of SAAR- Sri Lanka". Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  10. ^ SAARC Summit. "SAARC". SAARC Summit. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  11. ^ SAARC Secretariat. "SAARC Secretariat". SAARC Secretariat. SAARC Secretariat. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  12. ^ a b c Editorial (1 August 2008). "History and mission of SAARC". Daily Star, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  13. ^ a b c SAARC Summit press, 1st Summit. "1st Summit Declaration" (PDF). SAARC Summit press, 1st Summit. SAARC Summit press, 1st Summit. Retrieved 10 November 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  14. ^ SAARC 14th Summit Declaration, press. "14th Summit Declaration". Declaration of the Fourteenth SAARC Summit. SAARC 14th Summit Declaration, press. {{cite web}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  15. ^ a b c Charter of SAARC. "Charter of SAARC". Charter of SAARC. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  16. ^ a b c "Kathmandu, Nepal to host 18th SAARC Summit in November 2014". IANS. news.biharprabha.com. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  17. ^ a b c d e f Muhammad, Jamshed Iqbal. "SAARC: Origin, Growth, Potential and Achievements" (PDF). National Institute of Historical and Cultural Research in Islamabad. NIHCR in Islamabad. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  18. ^ "A Brief on SAARC." South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. No date. See for a complete historical account of SAARC e.g. Michael, Arndt (2013). India's Foreign Policy and Regional Multilateralism (Palgrave Macmillan), pp. 57–112.
  19. ^ Jang Media. "History and Evolution of SAARC". Jang Media Research Unit. Jang Media Group. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  20. ^ About SAARC. "About SAARC". About SAARC. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  21. ^ Staff (28 August 2005). "Afghanistan keen to join SAARC". rediff web services. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  22. ^ Staff reporter (4 April 2004). "Afghanistan inducted as 8th member: 14th Saarc summit begins". Dawn news, 2007. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  23. ^ a b c d Sáez, Lawrence (2011). The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) : an emerging collaboration architecture. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-57628-4.
  24. ^ "South Asia: Afghanistan Joins World's Largest Regional Grouping." Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 3 April 2007.
  25. ^ Waliur Rahman. "US and S Korea to observe SAARC." BBC News, 11 April 2008.
  26. ^ a b "SAARC to grant observer status to US, S Korea, EU." Hindustan Times. 2 August 2006.
  27. ^ "Iran requests for observer status in SAARC." People's Daily, 5 March 2009.
  28. ^ a b SAARC and Myanmar: Observer Research Foundation
  29. ^ a b c SAARC The Changing Dimensions: UNU-CRIS Working Papers United Nations University – Comparative Regional Integration Studies
  30. ^ a b c Russia keen to join SAARC as observer: Oneindia News
  31. ^ a b c "Memorandum of Understanding on the Establishment of the Secretariat." South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, 17 November 1986.
  32. ^ http://www.saarc-sec.org/Regional-Centers/12/
  33. ^ a b http://www.saarc-sec.org/Apex-and-Recognised-Bodies/14/
  34. ^ http://www.saarclaw.org/index.php
  35. ^ See for this aspect Michael, Arndt (2013). Sovereignty vs. Security: SAARC and its Role in the Regional Security Architecture in South Asia. Harvard Asia Quarterly Summer 2013, Vol. VX, No.2: 37-45
  36. ^ Jhawar, Shiv (2004). Building a Noble World. p. 44.
  37. ^ "The Nobel Peace Prize for 2012". Retrieved 12 October 2012.
  38. ^ http://www.saarc-sec.org/areaofcooperation/detail.php?activity_id=5
  39. ^ http://www.saarc-sec.org/SAARC-Visa-Exemption-Scheme/100/
  40. ^ http://www.saarc-sec.org/SAARC-Award/70/
  41. ^ [1] FOSWAL Website
  42. ^ [2] Five Writers honoured at SAARC Litearure Festival, Hindustan Times March 11, 2013
  43. ^ [3] Official website of SAARC:Apex and Recognized Bodies
  44. ^ Mahasweta Devi to get SAARC Literary Award Oneindia.in March 30, 2007
  45. ^ Indian diplomat's poem spurs search for SAARC anthem IANS January 9, 2014
  46. ^ "Russia, Turkey seek observer status in SAARC". The Economic Times. 16 February 2014.
  47. ^ "Russia, Turkey seek observer status in SAARC". Yahoo News. 16 February 2014.
  48. ^ "Russia, Turkey seek observer status in SAARC". Yahoo News. 16 February 2014.
  49. ^ "Russia, Turkey seek observer status in SAARC". The Economic Times. 16 February 2014.
  50. ^ SAARC hi nations call for transparency in social sector – Thaindian News
  51. ^ SAARC website | China Xi Jinping || 1 January 2014 to 28 March 2011
  52. ^ http://www.maldivestraveller.mv/news/local/president-of-maldives-invites-indian-pm-to-the-17th-saarc-summit/665/
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