South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)
South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was established with the signing of the SAARC Charter in Dhaka on 8 December 1985. SAARC comprises of eight Member States: Afghanistan, Bangladesh , Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The Secretariat of the Association was set up in Kathmandu on 17 January 1987. The objectives of the Association as outlined in the SAARC Charter are: 1:to promote the welfare of the peoples of South Asia and to improve their quality of life; to accelerate economic growth 2: social progress and cultural development in the region and to provide all individuals the opportunity to live in dignity and to realize their full potentials 3; to promote and strengthen collective self-reliance among the countries of South Asia; 4: to contribute to mutual trust, understanding and appreciation of one another's problems; 5: to promote a...