Pakistan and China are reportedly working on a proposal to establish a new regional organisation that could potentially replace the now-inactive South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), which was once dubbed the European Union (EU) of South Asia.

 

Citing diplomatic sources familiar with the development, a leading English daily reports that talks between Islamabad and Beijing have reached an advanced stage, with both sides agreeing that a new organisation is urgently needed for regional integration and connectivity.

 

SAARC was established in 1985 with member countries including Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka, with Afghanistan joining later.

 

The recent trilateral meeting, held in Kunming on June 19, was attended by senior diplomats from Pakistan, China and Bangladesh.

 

According to the news report, the aim is to invite other South Asian countries, members of SAARC, to join the new regional grouping.

 

India is reportedly expected to decline the invitation, citing its divergent interests. 

 

However, countries including Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Afghanistan are expected to join the proposed alliance.

 

If the proposal materialises, SAARC's role would become more irrelevant. The organisation failed to achieve its objectives under adversarial ties between Pakistan and India.

 

Since India's boycott of SAARC's meeting in Pakistan in 2016, no serious efforts have been made to revive the organisation, despite Pakistan's keenness to host the summit.

 

SAARC was dealt another blow recently when India withdrew from offering special visas under the organisation to Pakistani businessmen following the April 22 Pahalgam attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

 

According to the report, Pakistan and China have been discussing the proposal of a new organisation for months, concluding that like-minded countries in the region should join hands for a better future.