SAARC stands for the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. It is a regional intergovernmental organization and geopolitical union in South Asia. Founded in 1985, SAARC aims to promote regional cooperation and development among its member states. The organization's objectives include fostering economic and regional integration, as well as promoting mutual assistance and collaboration in various sectors, including trade, technology, and culture, to improve the quality of life for people in South Asia.

Yes, SAARC remains functional, although its effectiveness has been periodically questioned due to political and security tensions between member countries. The organization still holds summits and maintains cooperation in sectors such as trade, education, and health. However, regional disputes, particularly between India and Pakistan, have hindered its full potential. Despite challenges, SAARC continues to work towards regional integration and development, with an emphasis on humanitarian goals, trade cooperation, and environmental sustainability.

The headquarters of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is located in Kathmandu, Nepal. The city has hosted the organization's administrative activities since SAARC's establishment in 1985. As the central hub for the organization's operations, the headquarters facilitates communication between member states, coordinates regional initiatives, and hosts the annual SAARC summits. Kathmandu's role as the headquarters underscores Nepal's position as a key player in South Asian diplomacy and regional cooperation.

The primary purpose of SAARC is to promote regional cooperation and development among South Asian countries. By fostering economic, cultural, and social integration, SAARC aims to improve the living standards of people in South Asia. The organization works to reduce poverty, enhance trade, improve infrastructure, and tackle regional challenges such as environmental sustainability and health crises. SAARC also aims to strengthen political ties and regional security to contribute to peace and stability in South Asia.

The 9th member of SAARC is Afghanistan. It became a member in 2007, expanding the organization's geographical scope and contributing to its regional objectives. Afghanistan's inclusion enhanced SAARC's ability to address issues such as conflict resolution, counterterrorism, and economic development in a wider context. The addition of Afghanistan reflected the organization's commitment to fostering stability and peace across the South Asian region, including areas that face unique geopolitical and security challenges.

SAARC's founding members consist of eight South Asian countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. These countries cooperate on various issues, including economic development, trade, climate change, and education. As regional partners, SAARC nations work to improve diplomatic relations, reduce poverty, and enhance social well-being. Despite challenges, the organization plays an important role in fostering collaboration and peace-building efforts within South Asia.

The function of SAARC is to promote regional cooperation and address common challenges faced by South Asian countries. Its activities focus on enhancing economic integration, facilitating trade, advancing social development, improving infrastructure, and addressing security concerns. SAARC’s initiatives include tackling poverty, education, climate change, and regional conflicts. The organization strives to foster collaboration in areas such as health, agriculture, and technology to achieve sustainable development and mutual prosperity in South Asia.

The current head of SAARC is the Secretary-General, who is appointed every three years by the member countries. As of 2021, the Secretary-General is Esala Ruwan Weerakoon from Sri Lanka. The role of the Secretary-General is to oversee the day-to-day functioning of the SAARC Secretariat in Kathmandu and to coordinate the implementation of the organization’s initiatives. The leadership of the Secretary-General plays a crucial role in maintaining the focus on SAARC's goals and fostering collaboration among its member states.

The 21st SAARC Summit was held in Kathmandu, Nepal, in 2014. This summit aimed to strengthen regional cooperation among South Asian countries and address pressing issues such as poverty, trade, and security. The Kathmandu Declaration, which emerged from the summit, outlined several key initiatives to enhance the economic and social integration of South Asia. Despite some diplomatic challenges, the summit underscored the importance of intra-regional collaboration and emphasized peaceful coexistence in the region.

SAARC consists of 8 member countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. These nations are committed to promoting regional cooperation in South Asia through mutual assistance and collaborative efforts aimed at improving the living standards of their populations. SAARC’s structure enables member states to address common challenges, including poverty, education, trade, and healthcare, while fostering unity and solidarity among the people of South Asia.

SAARC plays a crucial role in regional integration by fostering economic collaboration, enhancing trade, and addressing shared issues such as poverty, climate change, and security concerns. Through various agreements and initiatives, SAARC works to reduce barriers to trade, promote connectivity, and encourage cooperative ventures in sectors like agriculture, education, and health. By promoting cultural exchange and political dialogue, SAARC aims to enhance mutual understanding and create a unified South Asian region that can address common challenges more effectively.

SAARC has made notable achievements in areas like economic integration, poverty reduction, and regional cooperation. Initiatives such as the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) and collaboration on social issues have helped advance the region's development. However, SAARC faces challenges due to political tensions, especially between India and Pakistan, which hinder its effectiveness. Additionally, the organization’s capacity to implement its goals has often been limited by competing national interests and the lack of strong institutional mechanisms to enforce agreements.

SAARC plays an important role in international relations by acting as a voice for South Asia in global discussions. It seeks to strengthen the region’s diplomatic presence through collaboration on economic, social, and environmental issues. By engaging with organizations like the United Nations and participating in multilateral forums, SAARC helps to influence global policies that affect South Asia. The organization also promotes peace, stability, and conflict resolution within the region, advocating for South Asian priorities on the international stage.

SAARC is a regional organization that aims to promote regional cooperation and development among its eight South Asian member countries. Its main objectives include enhancing economic cooperation, addressing poverty and inequality, promoting sustainable development, and fostering political dialogue. SAARC also focuses on improving regional trade, educational exchange, health, agriculture, and environmental sustainability. Through its efforts, SAARC strives to create a peaceful, prosperous, and integrated South Asia, where member countries work together for mutual benefit.

Bilateral relations among SAARC members vary depending on the specific political, economic, and historical contexts of each country. While some member states maintain strong, cooperative ties, others experience tensions due to historical conflicts or security concerns, particularly between India and Pakistan. However, SAARC provides a platform for diplomatic dialogue and conflict resolution, promoting peaceful and productive bilateral relations through dialogue and mutual cooperation. Despite differences, member countries strive to maintain a cooperative framework for regional stability and growth.

SAARC’s Sectoral Cooperation Initiatives (SCI) encompass a wide range of activities aimed at promoting development and collaboration in specific sectors such as agriculture, rural development, education, health, and the environment. These initiatives focus on improving regional cooperation by sharing knowledge, resources, and expertise. SCI programs often involve technical assistance, capacity-building, and policy exchange among member states, working toward common objectives like food security, poverty alleviation, and sustainable development in the South Asian region.

SAARC has achieved significant milestones since its inception in 1985. Key accomplishments include the creation of the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) to boost regional trade, the establishment of a regional food bank to address food security, and the advancement of initiatives in areas like rural development, education, and healthcare. Despite challenges, SAARC has facilitated greater cultural exchange, improved cooperation in disaster management, and enhanced regional integration in the South Asian region, helping its member countries address shared challenges.

SAARC summits are highly significant for member countries as they provide a platform for heads of state to engage in direct dialogue, address common issues, and make key decisions that shape the organization’s direction. These summits offer an opportunity to reinforce political, economic, and cultural ties, enhance regional cooperation, and resolve differences. The outcomes of the summits often include new agreements, collaborative projects, and initiatives aimed at tackling regional challenges like poverty, climate change, and security.

The primary difference between SAARC and the European Union (EU) lies in their scope and objectives. While SAARC focuses on fostering regional cooperation and development among South Asian countries, the EU is a political and economic union with a high degree of integration. The EU has a shared currency, a single market, and a common foreign policy, which are absent in SAARC. SAARC, on the other hand, focuses more on regional cooperation without aiming for the same level of political and economic unity as the EU.

SAARC has initiated several major projects to foster regional development. These include the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) to promote intra-regional trade, the establishment of the SAARC Food Bank to address food security, and the SAARC Disaster Management Centre to enhance disaster preparedness. Other initiatives focus on improving healthcare, education, and infrastructure across South Asia. Through these projects, SAARC aims to promote socio-economic development, poverty alleviation, and environmental sustainability in the region.