Pakistan is “ready to play its part” in the restoration of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, according to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday (SAARC).
The prime minister acknowledged that today is SAARC Charter Day in a tweet, saying that it serves as “a reminder of [the] vast untapped potential of regional development, connectivity, and cooperation” among South Asian nations.
He added that Pakistan is prepared to play a part in reviving the organisation and stated that the people of the SAARCÂ countries are “victims of these missed opportunities.”
The SAARC Charter Day is commemorated on December 8, and this year is the 38th anniversary of the association. The SAARC Charter was approved on this day in 1985 in Dhaka during the group’s opening session. The heads of eight South Asian nations, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, signed the charter. The SAARC Charter’s stated goals include advancing South Asians’ welfare and quality of life as well as driving regional economic growth, social advancement, and cultural development.
The SAARC summit was scheduled to take place in Islamabad in November 2016, but New Delhi boycotted the event due to tensions between India and Pakistan. As a result, the summit was unable to proceed because, according to the SAARC charter, meetings of the heads of government cannot be held if any member abstains. Furthermore, earlier this year, Pakistan issued a fresh invitation to India and the other SAARC participants for the upcoming summit, which will take place in Islamabad. Pakistan had stated that New Delhi may participate digitally if it chose not to attend in person.
