Key facts
- The Maldives is attempting to revive the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).
- The revival efforts are being obstructed by the ongoing political tensions between India and Pakistan.
- Disagreements between India and Pakistan have prevented any progress on restarting the bloc.
The Maldives' initiative to revive the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) has encountered significant obstacles due to the persistent political tensions between India and Pakistan. The island nation has been actively seeking to re-establish the regional bloc, but the deep-seated disagreements between its two largest members have effectively stalled any progress.
SAARC, which also includes Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan, has been largely inactive for several years. The ongoing geopolitical friction between India and Pakistan, two of the bloc's founding members, has been a primary reason for its dormancy. The Maldives' efforts to breathe new life into the organization are currently being thwarted by this long-standing bilateral impasse.