At the state funeral of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia in Dhaka on 31 December, 2025, the presence and solidarity shown by regional representatives led Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser, Professor Muhammad Yunus, to say that the “SAARC spirit is still alive and strong.”
Leaders from India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, the Maldives, and Bangladesh attended the state funeral. This has shown that, although some countries have political differences, during the sensitive and critical period, South Asian nations always stand together.
As we know well, technically and institutionally, the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) continues to function from the beginning. The Secretariat in Kathmandu, along with its Specialized Bodies and Regional Centres, remains active across diverse areas of cooperation. Bureaucratic and technical engagement has persisted, reflecting the commitment of officials and institutions to the SAARC Charter’s objectives. However, persistent political frictions, most notably the long-standing India–Pakistan rivalry, have cast a long shadow over the SAARC.
Established in 1985 with the signing of the SAARC Charter in Dhaka, SAARC now marks four decades of existence. Its core mission, to promote the welfare of South Asia’s people and improve their quality of life, remains as relevant as ever. Yet political disputes have disrupted summits and ministerial meetings, most visibly with the postponement of the 19th SAARC Summit scheduled for Islamabad in 2016. Moreover, the youngest member of this organization, Afghanistan’s ongoing crisis since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, has added another problem.
Still SAARC’s resilience should not be underestimated by anyone. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Earthquakes and other natural disasters, South Asian countries demonstrated collective resolve through joint consultations and cooperation. They have even supported each other bilaterally during the difficult time as well. The common goal of all the member countries is reflected during the appointment of the current Secretary General, Md. Golam Sarwar of Bangladesh, by temporarily skipping Afghanistan under extraordinary circumstances which has shown the political maturity of all the member states to function in the SAARC.
Nepal, the current Chair of SAARC, has been working rigorously to revive and fully function this organization. On the occasion of SAARC Charter Day, the region needs renewed resolve to revitalize SAARC and make it more dynamic, inclusive, and action-oriented. Secretary General Md. Golam Sarwar highlighted SAARC’s expanding scope, from trade and connectivity to climate change and disaster management.
In conclusion, we can say that technically SAARC is alive; and politically, it can be revived. As the chair of the SAARC, Nepal as well as other member states, should be proactive in holding the 19th SAARC Summit as soon as possible.
The geopolitics has been changing day by day and in this critical time, the regional organization should stay intact for their common benefit.
South Asia’s future prosperity depends on moving beyond rivalries and working together for economic development, stability, and the shared aspirations of more than one-fourth of humanity.
