Greater Saarc

India on Thursday participated in a video conference of SAARC health ministers hosted by Pakistan to promote greater regional cooperation to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.

In an oblique reference to Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that India's efforts for greater collaboration among the SAARC countries have repeatedly been challenged with threats and acts of terrorism.

The inclusion of two sparring neighbours into a grouping led by India's regional nemesis is enough to make any head turn and ask whether individual nations will be able to leave aside bilateral differences for the greater good, or whether, like SAARC, cooperation here too will become hostage to the India-Pakistan dispute.

Pakistan is exploring the possibility of creating a greater South Asian economic alliance to include China, Iran and neighbouring Central Asian republics as part of its bid counter India's influence in SAARC, a media report said today.

India today pitched for unleashing the "collective strength" of SAARC as External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj underlined the need for a South Asian Economic Union with greater connectivity and forward movement on pending agreements on rail and motor vehicles.

China's aggressive campaign to push for full membership of SAARC does not appear to be happening for now. Senior government sources have told NDTV that at the SAARC foreign ministers' meeting today, Pakistan demanded a greater role for China as an observer in the grouping. China is already an observer along with 8 other countries like the US and Ja...

India on Thursday participated in a video conference of SAARC health ministers hosted by Pakistan to promote greater regional cooperation to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.

In an oblique reference to Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that India's efforts for greater collaboration among the SAARC countries have repeatedly been challenged with threats and acts of terrorism.

The inclusion of two sparring neighbours into a grouping led by India's regional nemesis is enough to make any head turn and ask whether individual nations will be able to leave aside bilateral differences for the greater good, or whether, like SAARC, cooperation here too will become hostage to the India-Pakistan dispute.

Pakistan is exploring the possibility of creating a greater South Asian economic alliance to include China, Iran and neighbouring Central Asian republics as part of its bid counter India's influence in SAARC, a media report said today.

India today pitched for unleashing the "collective strength" of SAARC as External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj underlined the need for a South Asian Economic Union with greater connectivity and forward movement on pending agreements on rail and motor vehicles.

China's aggressive campaign to push for full membership of SAARC does not appear to be happening for now. Senior government sources have told NDTV that at the SAARC foreign ministers' meeting today, Pakistan demanded a greater role for China as an observer in the grouping. China is already an observer along with 8 other countries like the US and Ja...