US EditionPak, China Eye New Bloc Replacing SAARC
- At an IRS-organized seminar last Sunday, Pakistan, China, and Bangladesh proposed creating a new regional bloc to replace SAARC amid ongoing efforts to reset Pak-Afghan ties.
- SAARC has been largely inactive since 2016 due to India-Pakistan tensions and regional security disputes, with no formal summit since 2014, paralyzing regional cooperation.
- Pakistan and China are at an advanced stage of talks to establish a regional bloc replacing SAARC, amid trade plunges from $2.5 billion to $800 million due to political tensions, according to sources.
- Despite Bangladesh's denial, the regional response remains cautious as the proposed new bloc aims to invite other SAARC members amid ongoing tensions.
- With SAARC sidelined since 2016, China and Pakistan see the new bloc as key to regional integration and countering India’s influence, aligning with Belt and Road initiatives.
16 Articles
16 Articles
Recently, a trilateral meeting was held between Pakistan, China and Bangladesh in Kunming city of China. It is said that this meeting was a part of diplomatic maneuvers to give concrete shape to this organization. It is worth noting that the SAARC meeting has not been held since 2016. In 2016, when its meeting was proposed in Islamabad, there was an attack in Uri, Jammu and Kashmir.
To counter India, China, Pakistan and Bangladesh creating a Saarc-replacement
China, Pakistan and Bangladesh have formed a nexus and are trying to create a regional grouping to replace Saarc, which includes India as a member. The three plan to get other South Asian nations to become part of the grouping. Saarc activities came to a halt after India boycotted the summit in Pakistan over the Uri terror attack.
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- 67% of the sources lean Right
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