Reviving SAARC: Pakistan’s Push Through Ishaq Dar’s Historic Dhaka Visit Signals New Regional Momentum

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), established in 1985, was envisioned as a platform to foster economic growth, social progress, and regional integration among its eight member states: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. However, SAARC has been largely dormant since its last summit in 2014, primarily due to India-Pakistan tensions. In a significant development, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar’s visit to Dhaka on August 23-24, 2025—the first by a Pakistani foreign minister in 13 years—has reinvigorated calls to revive SAARC.

Pakistan’s Call for SAARC Revival and Dar’s Dhaka Visit

Pakistan has consistently advocated for SAARC’s revival, viewing it as a critical platform to address regional challenges like poverty, climate change, and economic integration. During his two-day visit to Dhaka on August 23-24, 2025, Ishaq Dar emphasized the need for a reinvigorated SAARC to foster inter-state trade and regional unity, marking a significant diplomatic push. The visit, described as a “significant milestone” by Pakistan’s Foreign Office, followed a warming of ties between Islamabad and Dhaka after the ouster of Bangladesh’s former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024. Dar held meetings with Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain, and leaders of political parties like the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami, discussing bilateral cooperation and SAARC’s revival.

Dar’s engagements underscored Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening ties with Bangladesh, emphasizing shared cultural, historical, and regional interests. At a press conference at the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka, he called for youth from both nations to collaborate on global challenges, stating, “We must work together to create an environment where youth from Karachi to Chittagong, Quetta to Rajshahi, Peshawar to Sylhet, and Lahore to Dhaka join hands to face these challenges and realize their shared dreams.” The visit, which saw agreements on trade, cultural exchanges, and travel connectivity, reflects Pakistan’s strategic intent to leverage improved bilateral ties with Bangladesh to advocate for SAARC’s reactivation.

Importance of Reviving SAARC

SAARC holds immense potential for South Asia, a region with over 2 billion people and a collective GDP of approximately $4.3 trillion. Reviving SAARC could yield significant benefits:

1. Economic Integration:

The South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA), launched in 2006, has been stymied by political tensions. Liberalizing trade, particularly between India and Pakistan, could boost bilateral trade from $2.5 billion to $10-50 billion annually. Dar’s visit resulted in agreements to enhance trade, including a joint working group and the import of 50,000 tonnes of rice from Bangladesh, signaling economic momentum.

2. Addressing Shared Challenges:

South Asia faces common issues like climate change and water scarcity, with per capita water availability down 70% since 1950. SAARC could facilitate collaborative projects in renewable energy and disaster management, areas Dar highlighted as critical for regional cooperation.

3. Regional Stability and Peace:

SAARC offers a platform for dialogue amidst tensions. Dar’s meetings with diverse Bangladeshi stakeholders, including the National Citizen Party (NCP), underscored the potential for people-to-people connections to foster stability.

4. Global Influence:

A unified SAARC could amplify South Asia’s voice in global forums, negotiating better trade terms and addressing issues like climate change collectively.

5. Cultural Connections:

Initiatives like the SAARC visa scheme and South Asian University, revitalized through agreements signed during Dar’s visit, can strengthen cultural ties.

Hurdles to SAARC’s Revival

SAARC’s revival faces significant challenges:

1. India-Pakistan Tensions:

The India-Pakistan rivalry, exacerbated by issues like Kashmir and terrorism allegations, has paralyzed SAARC. In 2016 India boycotted the Islamabad summit, stalling progress.

2. Economic Asymmetry:

India’s dominance, contributing over 70% of the region’s GDP, raises concerns among smaller states about unequal benefits. Dar’s push for trade agreements aims to address these imbalances but requires broader consensus.

3. Weak Institutions:

SAARC’s lack of robust enforcement mechanisms hinders progress. Unanimous decision-making often stalls due to bilateral disputes.

4. Geopolitical Interference:

China’s Belt and Road Initiative and India’s alignment with the Quad complicate regional dynamics. Reports suggest Pakistan and China may explore a new bloc excluding India, potentially undermining SAARC.

5. Historical Sensitivities:

Bangladesh’s demand for Pakistan’s apology for the 1971 war atrocities, raised during earlier talks, remains a sticking point. While not directly addressed during Dar’s visit, it underscores the need for reconciliation.

India’s Position

India remains skeptical of SAARC’s revival, favoring alternative frameworks like BIMSTEC and BBIN, which exclude Pakistan. New Delhi views SAARC as ineffective due to Pakistan’s alleged support for terrorism, particularly post-2016. India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has expressed concerns that Bangladesh’s push for SAARC, especially under Yunus, could align with Pakistan’s interests. India fears SAARC could amplify smaller states’ collective influence against it. However, India might reconsider if bilateral disputes are sidelined, focusing on economic and environmental cooperation.

Dar’s Visit: A Catalyst for Change

Ishaq Dar’s visit to Dhaka, the first by a Pakistani foreign minister since Hina Rabbani Khar’s 2012 trip, marks a turning point. The visit, initially planned for April but delayed due to regional tensions, built on recent diplomatic progress, including visa-free entry for diplomatic passports and direct shipping between Karachi and Chittagong. Dar’s meetings with Yunus and Hossain covered trade, cultural exchanges, and regional issues, with four to five memoranda of understanding signed, including on media collaboration and professional training. His engagement with political parties like BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami signals Pakistan’s intent to build broad-based support for regional cooperation, including SAARC’s revival.

The Path Forward

Reviving SAARC requires strategic steps:

1. Depoliticizing SAARC: India and Pakistan must exclude bilateral disputes from SAARC’s agenda. Dar’s call for a “forward-looking relationship” insulated from external pressures sets a positive tone.

2. Strengthening Institutions: SAARC needs a stronger secretariat and dispute-resolution mechanisms, learning from ASEAN’s model.

3. Engaging Smaller States: Addressing concerns about India’s dominance through equitable trade policies, as initiated during Dar’s visit, is crucial.

4. Countering External Influence: SAARC members should prioritize regional unity over external alignments, using platforms like Dar’s visit to build trust.

5. Incremental Progress: Starting with ministerial meetings, as Nepal has done, and leveraging Dar’s agreements on trade and cultural ties can pave the way for full summits.

Conclusion

Pakistan’s renewed push to revive SAARC, amplified by Ishaq Dar’s historic Dhaka visit, signals a new phase in regional diplomacy. The visit, yielding trade and cultural agreements, underscores Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening ties with Bangladesh and fostering SAARC’s revival. Despite challenges like India-Pakistan tensions and historical sensitivities, the potential for economic integration, regional stability, and global influence makes SAARC’s reactivation a worthy goal. By building on the momentum of Dar’s visit and addressing structural and political hurdles, South Asia can harness SAARC’s potential to create a more prosperous and united region.