**Policy Summary: SAARC Summit and Proposed Alternative Regional Block**
This document summarizes the Indian Ministry of External Affairs' response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 983, answered on July 25, 2025, regarding the status of the SAARC Summit and the potential formation of a new regional block involving China, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
The Ministry of External Affairs states that the SAARC Summit has not been held since 2014 due to Pakistan's sponsorship of cross-border terrorism and obstruction of regional trade and transport connectivity, preventing consensus among member states for holding the 19th SAARC Summit, originally scheduled for November 2016 in Pakistan.
Regarding reports of a potential new block led by China and Pakistan, the Ministry acknowledges awareness of the China-Pakistan-Bangladesh trilateral meeting in Kunming. However, it notes that the Foreign Affairs Adviser of Bangladesh indicated in a media briefing that the meeting was not intended to form an alliance targeting any third country.
The Government of India is monitoring developments related to this proposed block and will take necessary measures to protect India's national interests. The response does not indicate any fixed timelines for the creation of a new block.
Key Entities Referenced
SAARC: South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, a regional intergovernmental organization and geopolitical union in South Asia.
China: A country in East Asia, mentioned in the context of potentially forming a new bloc and the trilateral meeting.
Pakistan: A country in South Asia, mentioned in the context of sponsoring cross-border terrorism and potentially forming a new bloc.
Bangladesh: A country in South Asia, mentioned in the context of the ChinaPakistanBangladesh Trilateral meeting.
Kunming: The city in China where the ChinaPakistanBangladesh Trilateral meeting was held.
India: A country in South Asia whose government's stand on the proposed block is mentioned.
Ministry of External Affairs: The Indian government ministry responsible for the country's foreign relations.
Dhaka: The capital city of Bangladesh, where the Foreign Affairs Adviser of Bangladesh gave a media briefing.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 983
ANSWERED ON - 25/07/2025
CREATION OF NEW BLOCK IN PLACE OF SAARC
983. SHRI BALASHOWRY VALLABHANENI
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be please to state:
(a) the reasons for SAARC Summit not being held since, 2014;
(b) whether China and Pakistan are planning to create a new block in
place of SAARC to advance connectivity, trade and political dialogue,
if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether China-Pakistan-Bangladesh Trilateral meeting at Kunming
discussed above issue at length, if so, the details thereof;
(d) the stand of India on the proposed block; and
(e) whether any timelines have been fixed to create a new block, if so,
the details thereof?
1ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) The efforts to continue the SAARC dialogue, including holding of
important meetings are hindered due to Pakistan sponsoring cross
border terrorism and blocking trade and transport connectivity efforts
in the region. As a result, the 19th SAARC Summit scheduled to be held
in Pakistan in November 2016 was postponed. There has been no
material change in the situation since then, and hence still no
consensus among Member States on the holding of the Summit.
(b) to (e) We have seen reports of the China-Pakistan-Bangladesh
Trilateral meeting at Kunming. Following the meeting, the Foreign
Affairs Adviser of Bangladesh conveyed, during a media briefing in
Dhaka, that the trilateral meeting was not meant to build an alliance
targeting any third country. The Government of India maintains a
constant watch on all developments having a bearing on India’s
national interests and takes all necessary measures to safeguard
them.
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