The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is an intergovernmental organization of 8 member countries of South Asia established in 1985 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. SAARC aims to promote economic and regional integration through cooperation between the member states based on principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence. The founding members were Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, with Afghanistan joining in 2007.

1. 1

2. 2

3. Introduction
• The South Asian Association for
Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is the
regional intergovernmental organization
and geopolitical union of nation in South
Asia.
• Its member state include Afganistan,
Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal,
Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
3

4.  The idea of co-operation in South Asia was discussed in at least three
conferences:
1. The Asian Relations Conference in New Delhi on April 1947.
2. The Baguio Conference in the Philippines on May 1950.
3. The Colombo powers Conference in Sri Lanka in April 1954.
 The first concrete proposal for establishing a framework for regional
cooperation in South Asia was made by the late president of Bangladesh, Zia-
ur-Rehman, on May 2, 1980.
4

5. History
Officially, the union was established in Dhaka on 8th
December 1985.
 Its seven founding members are Sri-
Lanka,Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan,
and Bangladesh.
5

6. Respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity,
political equality and independence of all
members states.
Non-interference in the internal matters.
Cooperation for mutual benefit.
All decisions to be taken unanimously.
All bilateral issues to be kept aside and only
multilateral issues to be discussed.
6

7. 7

8. 8

9. 1. Afganistan ( Joined in 2007)
2. Bangladesh
3. Bhutan
4. India
5. Maldives
6. Nepal
7. Pakistan
8. Sri Lanka
9

10. 10

11. 11

12. 12

13. 13

14. 14

15. 15

16. 16

17. 17