Pakistan, China mulls scrapping SAARC, bid to counter India with new regional bloc
PTC News Desk: Pakistan, China and Bangladesh are developing a proposal to create a new regional bloc in order to replace SAARC, of which India is a prominent member. According to Pakistani media, the talks between Beijing and Islamabad have gained momentum and have reached advanced level.
Bangladesh too was part of the recent meeting to create the new regional bloc that was held in China's Kunming on June 19, according to the report.
Currently SAARC consists of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was formed on December 8, 1985. There were seven founding members, while Afghanistan joined the grouping in 2007.
"The ultimate goal of the meeting in Kunming on June 19 was to invite other South Asian countries, which were part of Saarc, to join the new grouping," Karachi-based The Express Tribune reported.
The of late trilateral meeting betwen Pakistan, China and Bangladesh in Kunming, China was a significant strategic step in establishing regional bloc to counter India. The meeting aimed to extend invitations to other SAARC members in joining the new alliance.
- With inputs from agencies
