South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation

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The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is an intergovernmental organization comprising eight sovereign states with full membership: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. It also includes nine non-member observers: Australia, China, the European Union, Iran, Japan, Mauritius, Myanmar, South Korea, and the United States. As of 2021, SAARC members collectively account for about 21% of the world's population and 5.21% (US$4.47 trillion) of the global economy. The organization was founded in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on 8 December 1985 and is currently headquartered in Kathmandu, Nepal. SAARC has promoted economic development and regional integration, including through the South Asian Free Trade Area since 2006. It maintains a permanent diplomatic presence at the United Nations as an observer and has developed similar links with the European Union. As of 2026, SAARC summits have not been held since the 18th summit in Nepal in November...

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