Message of President Asif Ali Zardari, on 40th Anniversary of SAARC Charter Day 8 December 2025
Islamabad : As we mark the 40th anniversary of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation(SAARC), I extend greetings to the peoples and governments of our region.
SAARC began in Dhaka in December 1985 with a simple understanding that South Asia’s future would be more secure and more prosperous if its nations worked together. Islamabad has played its part in advancing that vision, hosting the 4th Summit under Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto during her first tenure and later the 12th Summit.
The 19th Summit was to be held in Islamabad in 2016, in line with Pakistan’s turn to host, but India’s refusal to attend halted the process and for the past 11 years SAARC has remained stalled. With disputes across nearly all its borders, India’s approach has become the central impediment to meaningful regional cooperation, leaving the region’s peace and progress unnecessarily captive to its narrow choices.
This impasse has led several member states to reflect on whether South Asia can afford continued paralysis. There is now growing interest in exploring a revived regional format that keeps the door open for all, yet does not allow one country to block collective progress. Important regional countries like Iran and China, can also be made part of the revival plan. Their participation would strengthen connectivity, economic integration and stability across the wider neighbourhood.
Pakistan remains committed to a cooperative, inclusive and forward-looking regional order. Our geography places us at the meeting point of South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. We are ready to work with all willing states to promote trade, transit, energy linkages and people-to-people ties that benefit the entire region.
On this Charter Day, I encourage South Asian nations to approach the future with clarity and sincerity. The region’s challenges are shared and so must be the solutions. With a spirit of respect and practical cooperation, we can shape a more peaceful and prosperous South Asia for our future generations
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
