SAARC Constraints, Limitations, Decision Making Process, Political Differences

South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Constraints, Limitations, Political Differences, India's role in decision making

The SAARC Secretariat is based in Katmandu. It coordinates and monitors implementation of activities, prepares for and services meetings, and serves as a channel of communication between the Association and its Member States as well as other regional organizations.

Decisions are taken on the basis of unanimity. Bilateral and contentious issues are excluded from the deliberations of SAARC.

Preparatory meetings were held prior to the First Summit in Dhaka.

The Foreign Secretaries in 1981 in Colombo and the Foreign Ministers in 1983 in New Delhi identified areas to promote regional cooperation.

The areas of cooperation under the reconstituted Regional Integrated Program of Action, which is pursued through the Technical Committees, now cover Agriculture and Rural Development; Health and Population Activities; Women, Youth and Children; Environment and Forestry; Science and Technology; Transport; and Human Resource Development.

Working Groups have also been established in the areas of Information and Communications Technology (ICT); Biotechnology; Tourism; and Energy.

Domination of India
India has 70% area amongst all SAARC countries. Also remaining small countries do not share the border with each other except for Pakistan- Afghanistan.

Political differences
The political differences had the deep negative impact on the political will to realize the economic cooperation and integration.

3. Inequality among members
The member states except India have still not reached the take-off stage to be able to pursue the program of economic integration and collaboration.