Pakistan is ready to play a role in reviving SAARC, Shehbaz Sharif tweeted the information
Islamabad. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that Pakistan is ready to play its role in revitalizing the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) to harness the vast potential of the region. His remarks came on the occasion of SAARC Declaration Day on Thursday. “SAARC Declaration Day today is a reminder of the untapped huge potential of regional development, connectivity and cooperation among the countries of South Asia,” Sharif tweeted.
SAARC Charter Day today is a reminder of the vast untapped potential of regional development, connectivity & cooperation among countries of South Asia. The people of SAARC countries are victims of these missed opportunities. Pakistan is ready to play its part for revival of SAARC.
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) December 8, 2022
He also said that the people of SAARC countries were “victims of not taking advantage of these opportunities” and added: “Pakistan is ready to play its part to revive SAARC.” The member countries of SAARC include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The eight-member grouping has not made much progress even after the passage of more than two and a half decades since its inception.
The rivalry between Pakistan and India is considered to be the main reason hindering the process of greater cooperation among the members. The 19th summit of the grouping in Pakistan in 2016 was postponed due to differences between the two neighbours.
India expressed its inability to participate in the summit due to “urgent circumstances” following the terrorist attack by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists on an Indian Army camp at Uri in Jammu and Kashmir on 18 September that year. . The summit was subsequently canceled after Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan refused to attend the Islamabad meeting.
