Bangladesh and Pakistan Seek to Revive SAARC, Strengthen Bilateral Ties

Strategic Insights -

Bangladesh's interim government leader Muhammad Yunus and Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have expressed a desire to revive the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and strengthen bilateral relations. The two leaders discussed the matter on a telephone call, with Sharif emphasizing the need to reinvigorate the SAARC process and Yunus committing to revitalizing the organization as a top regional forum to boost ties among South Asian nations. The SAARC process has been largely dormant since India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Bhutan pulled out of a summit hosted by Pakistan in 2016.

Key Takeaways:

  • Bangladesh and Pakistan are seeking to revive SAARC, a regional organization that has been largely inactive since 2016.
  • SAARC has the potential to boost economic cooperation and people-to-people connections among South Asian nations.
  • Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized the need to reinvigorate the SAARC process, citing the potential for expanding bilateral trade and economic cooperation.
  • Bangladesh interim government leader Muhammad Yunus is committed to revitalizing SAARC as a top regional forum.
  • The two leaders discussed the need to hold regular SAARC summits and, at a minimum, brief meetings among heads of state and governments.
  • The SAARC process was moribund after India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Bhutan pulled out of a summit hosted by Pakistan in November 2016.
  • Pakistan has been strengthening regional ties through other mechanisms, such as Bimstec, since the SAARC summit fell through.
  • Bangladesh and Pakistan are also looking to strengthen bilateral ties and resume mechanisms like foreign secretary-level consultations and joint economic commissions.
  • Pakistan's Prime Minister expressed his willingness to provide support to people affected by floods in southern and southeastern Bangladesh.

Statistics:

  • At least 600 people died during student-led protests in Bangladesh that resulted in Muhammad Yunus' appointment as interim government leader on August 8.
  • SAARC has been largely inactive since November 2016, when India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Bhutan pulled out of a summit hosted by Pakistan.
  • The summit in 2016 was the last major effort to revive SAARC, which has struggled to regain momentum since then.
  • Pakistan has continued to strengthen regional ties through mechanisms like Bimstec, which includes countries from the Bay of Bengal to Southeast Asia.

Sources:

  • Readout of the conversation between Muhammad Yunus and Shehbaz Sharif on a telephone call.
  • Hindustan Times, published with permission from HT Digital Content Services.
  • Text from the conversation between Yunus and Sharif on a telephone call.
  • The readout of the conversation was provided by the Bangladeshi side.