The Influence and Relevance of SAARC as a Regional Organization in the Contemporary Indo-Pakistan Bilateral Rivalry

Abstract

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was envisioned as a platform for fostering regional integration, cooperation, and socio-economic development among South Asian nations. However, the protracted rivalry between India and Pakistan has significantly hindered its potential. This paper explores the influence and current relevance of SAARC in light of escalating Indo-Pak tensions, evaluating the organization’s structural challenges, political deadlocks, and strategic limitations. It discusses whether SAARC has been reduced to a symbolic entity due to bilateral disputes and analyzes alternative regional frameworks that are gaining prominence. The research delves into SAARC’s institutional weaknesses, examines shifting alliances toward platforms like BIMSTEC and the SCO, and evaluates the implications for regional peace and diplomacy. This paper also considers the geopolitical aspirations of member states, the influence of global powers on regional cooperation, and the shifting balance of power in South Asia. Through a multi-dimensional analysis, it reveals how regionalism is being reshaped in the face of enduring bilateral hostility. The study also highlights how non-traditional security issues such as climate change, pandemics, and migration demand collective responses that SAARC is uniquely positioned to address, if reinvigorated. Ultimately, this study provides realistic recommendations to reinvigorate SAARC's role in a fragmented regional landscape and restore its credibility as a multilateral institution.

Keywords: SAARC, Indo-Pak rivalry, Regional Cooperation, South Asia, Diplomacy, Regionalism, Foreign Policy