Since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government, Bangladesh’s growing closeness with Pakistan has become evident. Now, the new interim government of Bangladesh, led by Muhammad Yunus, is emphasizing the revival of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), which has long been suspended due to the India-Pakistan conflict. In response to Bangladesh’s demand, India has clearly stated that it should not become a supporter of terrorism.

Recently, during a multilateral conference between India and Bangladesh, discussions were held regarding the revival of SAARC. Bangladesh’s interim government’s Foreign Affairs Advisor, Mohammad Tauhid Hussain, met with Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and sought India’s support for convening a meeting of SAARC’s Standing Committee and reviving the organization. This discussion took place during their meeting at the 8th Indian Ocean Conference held in Muscat.

MEA’s Strong Stand: ‘Terrorism Should Not Be Normalized’

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that during a recent meeting, Bangladesh raised the issue of SAARC. He made it clear, saying, “The entire South Asian region knows which country and activities are responsible for disrupting SAARC. The External Affairs Minister (Jaishankar) emphasized that Bangladesh should not attempt to normalize terrorism.” India has reiterated that strict action against terrorism is essential for regional cooperation and peace.

However, after the meeting with the Bangladeshi advisor, Jaishankar did not mention SAARC in his social media post. Instead, he wrote, “Had a meeting with Bangladesh’s interim government’s Foreign Affairs Advisor, Mohammad Tauhid Hossain. The discussion focused on bilateral relations and BIMSTEC.”

Tensions between India and Bangladesh have escalated significantly following the ousting of Sheikh Hasina, particularly due to attacks on minority Hindus in Bangladesh. There has been a rise in violence against Hindus and other minorities, as well as attacks on temples, raising deep concerns in New Delhi. Given the over 4,000-kilometer-long border between India and Bangladesh, sporadic unrest has also been observed along the frontier.

Why is SAARC Inactive?

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) has been effectively inactive for several years, primarily due to regional tensions, especially the ongoing conflict between India and Pakistan. SAARC was established on December 8, 1985, with the aim of promoting cooperation, peace, and economic development among South Asian nations. Its member countries include India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, the Maldives, and Afghanistan. However, several factors have prevented the organization from functioning at its full potential.

The biggest reason for SAARC’s inactivity is the long-standing tension between India and Pakistan. Following the terrorist attack in Uri, Jammu and Kashmir, in 2016, India refused to participate in the 19th SAARC Summit, which was scheduled to be held in Islamabad. Subsequently, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Afghanistan also withdrew from the summit, leading to its cancellation. Since then, no SAARC summit has been held. India has maintained that cooperation under SAARC is not possible as long as Pakistan continues to support terrorism.

India has repeatedly emphasized that terrorism and cooperation cannot go hand in hand. Allegations against Pakistan for supporting terrorist activities have led India to lose interest in furthering SAARC’s initiatives. As a result, SAARC’s core objective—regional unity and collaboration—has been significantly affected. Instead of SAARC, India has shifted its focus to alternative regional groupings like BIMSTEC, which does not include Pakistan. This move aligns with India’s strategy to isolate Pakistan on the global stage. For instance, Bangladesh recently called for a SAARC summit, but India reiterated its preference for BIMSTEC over SAARC.