Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Dr. Vijay Jolly has stated that the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) has lost its relevance. He blamed Pakistan for such an outcome.
Jolly, speaking at a press conference held in Kathmandu on Wednesday during his visit to Nepal, said that SAARC, which was once an effective platform, is no longer meaningful.
Jolly also emphasised that Nepal-India relations are unbreakable and will continue to move forward. He highlighted that the ties between the two countries are not just based on bread and marriage (a metaphor for close cultural and familial ties) but also have strong military cooperation.
He reiterated India’s consistent support for Nepal’s multi-party democratic system.
Regarding secularism in Nepal, Jolly suggested that decisions should move forward by understanding the opinion of the Nepali people. He stated that the right to decide on all internal matters of Nepal rests solely with the Nepali people and their political parties.
The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was established with the signing of the SAARC Charter in Dhaka on 8 December 1985. SAARC is comprised 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.
