SAARC

In full South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation , organization of South Asian nations, founded on December 8, 1985 and dedicated to economic, technological, social, and cultural development emphasizing collective self-reliance. Its seven founding members are Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Headquartered in Kathmandu, Nepal, meetings of heads of state are scheduled annually and their foreign secretaries convene twice annually. SAARC provides a platform for the peoples of South Asia to work together to accelerate the process of economic and social development in member states.

The stated areas of cooperation are agriculture and forestry, health and population, meteorology, rural development, telecommunications, transport, science and technology, postal services, women in development, drug trafficking and abuse, sports, and arts and culture. Other concerns, such as tourism and terrorism, however, have also been targeted. The charter stipulates that decisions are to be unanimous and that "bilateral and contentious issues" are to be avoided.