Maldives President Dr Mohamed Muizzu on Friday celebrated the 39th SAARC Charter Day by stressing the importance of reflecting on the principles and values of regional cooperation, promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in South Asia. He also stated that the SAARC has been crucial in addressing regional challenges and advancing shared goals.
The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, commonly known as SAARC, is a regional intergovernmental organization and geopolitical union in South Asia. It was established on December 8, 1985, with the aim of promoting regional cooperation and development in South Asia.
The member countries include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
The SAARC Charter provides the framework for cooperation in various areas, including economic and regional integration, agriculture, health, education, and more.
The Charter is the foundational document that outlines the objectives, principles, and framework of the organization.
The primary objectives of SAARC, as outlined in its Charter, include fostering collaboration in various sectors such as culture, and technology too, and working towards peace and stability in the region.
SAARC conducts summits and meetings regularly to discuss and address issues of mutual concern, promote cooperation, and enhance regional stability.
Despite challenges, SAARC remains a platform for dialogue and collaboration in South Asia.
However, it's important to note that the effectiveness of SAARC has sometimes been affected by regional tensions and geopolitical factors among its member countries, especially between nuclear powers India and Pakistan which have fought wars.
India and Pakistan have fought three major wars:
1) First Indo-Pak War (1947-1948): Also known as the First Kashmir War, it took place soon after the independence of India and Pakistan in 1947-1948 over the region of Jammu and Kashmir.
2) Second Indo-Pak War (1965): Known as the Second Kashmir War, it was fought primarily over the Kashmir region. The war ended with a ceasefire brokered by the United Nations (UN).
3) Indo-Pakistani War of 1971: This conflict was a result of the Bangladesh Liberation War, during which East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) sought independence from West Pakistan (present-day Pakistan). India intervened in support of Bangladesh, leading to a decisive victory for India and the creation of Bangladesh as an independent nation.
Apart from these major wars, there have been several skirmishes, conflicts, and military standoffs between India and Pakistan.
India and Pakistan gained independence from British rule on August 15, 1947. The process leading to the independence and partition of British India resulted in the creation of two separate nations—India and Pakistan. The Indian Independence Act of 1947 was the legislation passed by the British Parliament that facilitated this partition, leading to the establishment of two independent dominions. The partition was based on religious lines, with Pakistan created as a separate state for Muslims. On August 15, 1947, the two new nations officially came into existence, marking their independence from British colonial rule.
Bangladesh gained independence through a struggle for autonomy and freedom from what was then East Pakistan. The roots of the independence movement can be traced back to the partition of British India in 1947 when the region of Bengal was divided into two parts—one becoming the Indian state of West Bengal, and the other joining Pakistan as East Bengal.
Over the years, linguistic, cultural, and economic disparities between East and West Pakistan led to widespread discontent in East Pakistan. The people of East Pakistan, who were primarily Bengali-speaking and felt marginalized, sought greater autonomy and recognition of their linguistic and cultural identity. The situation escalated, and tensions mounted over issues such as economic disparity, political representation, and language rights.
The turning point came in 1971 when the Pakistan Army launched a military operation in East Pakistan to suppress demands for autonomy. The crackdown resulted in widespread human rights abuses, including mass killings, rapes, and displacement. In response to the military action, the Bengali population of East Pakistan, with the support of India, declared independence on March 26, 1971, and the provisional government of Bangladesh was formed.
The conflict between the Pakistani military and Bengali nationalists, known as the Bangladesh Liberation War, ensued. India intervened in support of the Bengali independence movement, and the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 took place. The war lasted for about two weeks and resulted in a decisive victory for the joint Indian and Bengali forces.
On December 16, 1971, the Pakistani military in East Pakistan surrendered to the joint Indian and Bengali forces, leading to the creation of the independent nation of Bangladesh. The conflict and the subsequent victory marked the end of the Bangladesh Liberation War and the beginning of Bangladesh as a sovereign nation. December 16 is celebrated as Victory Day in Bangladesh.
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