Driven by the continued ineffectiveness of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), Pakistan is actively pivoting toward alternative regional frameworks to secure its economic future. Ishaq Dar, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan, has confirmed that Islamabad is exploring new trilateral cooperation agreements specifically involving China, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh.
Delivering a keynote address at a conference in Lahore on Friday, Ishaq Dar outlined a significant reorientation in regional diplomacy. He observed that the systemic paralysis of SAARC has severely restricted economic integration across the subcontinent, compelling member states to look elsewhere for mutual cooperation and development.
“Unfortunately, SAARC has not been able to establish itself effectively,” Ishaq Dar stated. He emphasised that despite South Asia possessing immense untapped potential, the region continues to lag economically due to fragile interstate relations and persistent diplomatic gridlock.
In response to these regional constraints, Pakistan is moving to bypass traditional hurdles by cultivating new, targeted partnerships. According to the Foreign Minister, strategic discussions are already underway to form dedicated corridors designed to enhance trade and connectivity. These proposed frameworks include a China-Pakistan-Afghanistan economic bloc and a parallel China-Pakistan-Bangladesh alliance.
The rationale behind this strategic shift is rooted in the long-standing political inertia within SAARC. Established in 1985, the eight-member organisation includes Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan. However, deep-seated political tensions between India and Pakistan have effectively stalled the bloc’s core activities in recent years, leaving ambitious connectivity and trade initiatives on the table. As regional dynamics evolve, this proposed realignment could signal a new era of trade and infrastructure cooperation outside the traditional SAARC framework.
