South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) 

• Origins 
  • The idea of regional cooperation in South Asia was first discussed at the Asian Relations Conference (1947), the Baguio Conference (1950), and the Colombo Powers Conference (1954). 
  • The concept of SAARC was proposed by Bangladesh’s President Ziaur Rahman in 1980 to promote peace and stability. 
• Establishment 
  • SAARC was officially formed on December 8, 1985, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, with 7 founding members: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. 
  • Afghanistan became the 8th member in 2007. 
•  Objectives 
  • Improve welfare, accelerate growth, and promote cultural development. 
  • Strengthen self-reliance, trust, and cooperation in various fields. 
• Key Principles: Sovereign equality, non-interference, and consensus-based decisions. 
•  Significance: Represents 21% of the world’s population and 5.21% of the global economy (USD 4.47 trillion, 2021). 
•  Scope of Cooperation 
  • SAFTA (2006): Promotes free trade in South Asia. 
  • SATIS (2012): Liberalizes trade in services and boosts investments.