India on Wednesday reiterated its support for strong regional cooperation but said such ties require goodwill, pointing to actions that have “stymied” the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal made the remarks during a routine media briefing while responding to an appeal from the Maldives to revive the SAARC process. “Everyone in South Asia is aware of which country and what activities are actually stymying SAARC… After all, cooperation does require goodwill,” Jaiswal said.
Jaiswal also framed India’s position in stark terms, saying Pakistan’s support for cross‑border terrorism has stalled any dialogue with India and that Pakistan has been carrying out acts of aggression against Afghanistan. His comments came amid renewed calls from other regional capitals to deepen South Asian cooperation.
Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu urged a SAARC revival while speaking at his country’s Independence Day ceremony, marking 61 years of independence. Muizzu called on member states to resolve differences through dialogue, asked them to return to the negotiating table for the sake of regional peace and cooperation, and said the Maldives was ready to serve as a mediator to break the current deadlock. He delivered the remarks before 113 diplomats representing 43 countries and international organisations.
Earlier in July, Bangladesh also voiced support for deeper cooperation within South Asia and outlined measures to revive SAARC. Bangladesh’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed said, “The organisation needs stronger implementation capacity, greater financial strength, more effective specialised mechanisms and a practical culture of follow‑up.” Obaed added that Bangladesh, after discussions with member states, is considering coordinating moves to convene a senior officials’ meeting and possibly a special session of the Council of Ministers.
The SAARC grouping comprises Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. India’s comments underscore the continuing impasse that has hindered institutional activity within the eight‑nation bloc.
On related regional issues, Jaiswal said India and China had agreed in August 2025 to resume border trade through three designated trading points — Lipulekh Pass, Shipki La Pass and Nathu La Pass — and that steps were now being taken to implement that understanding. He also confirmed that an invitation has been extended to Nepal’s prime minister to visit India.
The exchanges reflect competing priorities in South Asia: repeated diplomatic appeals for renewed cooperation, and persistent security and political disputes that parties say must be resolved before multilateral engagement can fully resume.
Original Source: https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/india-takes-dig-at-pakistan-over-saarc-stymying-11835486#publisher=newsstand
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Publish Date: 2026-07-29 04:39:00
