The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)
The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is an intergovernmental organization comprising eight member countries in South Asia: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. SAARC was established in 1985 to promote regional cooperation and economic integration among its member countries. The SAARC countries are rich in cultural, linguistic, and ethnic diversity. Despite the challenges faced by these countries, SAARC has been successful in promoting regional cooperation and addressing common challenges such as poverty, terrorism, climate change, and regional security. India is the largest economy and the most populous country in the SAARC region. It has been playing a leading role in promoting regional integration and cooperation in the areas of trade, investment, and infrastructure development. India has also launched several initiatives to improve connectivity and people-to-people contacts among the SAARC countries, such as the