**Summary:**
On July 25, 2025, the Ministry of External Affairs addressed Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1101 regarding India's membership in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). In response to the query, the Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs, Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh, clarified that India has not withdrawn its membership from SAARC. While India remains committed to supporting cooperation within SAARC across various sectors, progress on dialogue and key meetings is being impeded by Pakistan's support for cross-border terrorism and obstruction of trade and transport connectivity initiatives within the region. As an alternative, India is actively pursuing stronger regional partnerships through the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) mechanism, engaging with countries in South Asia to enhance regional cooperation.
Key Entities Referenced
SAARC: South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, a regional intergovernmental organization.
SHRI T R BAALU: Member of Parliament who raised the question in Lok Sabha.
MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: The Indian government ministry responsible for foreign relations.
SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH: Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs who provided the answer.
Pakistan: Country accused of sponsoring cross-border terrorism and blocking trade and transport connectivity efforts in the SAARC region.
South Asia: Region in which India is strengthening regional partnerships.
BIMSTEC: Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, a regional organization that India is actively engaging with.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 1101
ANSWERED ON - 25/07/2025
WITHDRAWAL OF MEMBERSHIP FROM SAARC
1101. SHRI T R BAALU
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be please to state:
(a) whether India has withdrawn its membership from the SAARC, if so,
the details thereof; and
(b) the alternative steps being contemplated to strengthen diplomatic
ties in the sub Region to compensate the imminent loss?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) No.
(b) India continues to support various activities in diverse areas to
achieve closer cooperation in SAARC. However, the efforts to continue
1the 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. India
has been actively engaging countries in the region including in South
Asia to strengthen the regional partnership through the BIMSTEC
mechanism.
*****
2