India Attributes SAARC Deadlock to Lack of Goodwill, Maldivian President Calls for Revival
India has stated that it supports strong regional cooperation and has worked towards it for decades, while indirectly attributing the stagnation of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) to a lack of goodwill from one member country.
During a regular media briefing, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, 'When it comes to regional cooperation, India favours strong regional cooperation and has been working towards it for several decades now. Everyone in South Asia is aware of which country and what activities are actually stymying SAARC... After all, cooperation does require goodwill.'
Jaiswal was responding to a query about Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu's appeal to revive the SAARC process. While Jaiswal did not name any country, the remarks are widely seen as referring to Pakistan, which India accuses of supporting cross-border terrorism and stalling bilateral dialogue.
SAARC, founded in 1985, includes Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. The grouping has been largely inactive since 2016, when India pulled out of the scheduled summit in Islamabad citing cross-border terrorism.
On Sunday, Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu called for reviving SAARC, urging member states to resolve differences through dialogue. Speaking at Maldives' Independence Day ceremony, Muizzu said differences should be resolved via dialogue and offered to serve as a mediator to break the deadlock. He made the remarks in front of diplomats from 43 countries and international organisations.
Earlier in July, Bangladesh's State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed also voiced support for deeper cooperation within South Asia. She suggested measures to revive the body, including stronger implementation capacity, greater financial strength, more effective specialised mechanisms, and a practical culture of follow-up. She mentioned that Bangladesh is considering, after consultations with member countries, convening a senior officials meeting and possibly a special session of the Council of Ministers.
The article also noted that India had agreed in August 2025 to resume border trade with China through three designated points: Lipulekh Pass, Shipki La Pass, and Nathu La Pass. Additionally, an invitation has been extended to the Prime Minister of Nepal to visit India.
