Pakistan Proposes Trilateral Cooperation with Afghanistan, China, and Bangladesh Amid SAARC Stagnation

Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar stated on Friday that the prolonged stagnation of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation is prompting Islamabad to pursue alternative trilateral cooperation frameworks. Speaking at the South Asian Accountants Federation conference in Lahore, Dar said Pakistan is actively exploring new economic partnerships with Afghanistan, China, and Bangladesh to strengthen regional trade and development.

Dar attributed the regional bloc’s limited effectiveness to persistent political tensions between India and Pakistan, which have repeatedly disrupted its operations and led to the suspension of regular summits. He noted that the resulting diplomatic gridlock has significantly reduced broader regional engagement and hindered collective economic progress across South Asia.

Emphasizing the economic potential of the region, Dar pointed out that South Asia’s population of nearly two billion people continues to miss substantial commercial and developmental opportunities due to weak neighborly cooperation. He argued that bypassing the stalled multilateral structure in favor of targeted trilateral initiatives could help unlock trade corridors, attract investment, and foster more practical economic integration. The proposed frameworks aim to focus on infrastructure connectivity, cross-border trade facilitation, and resource sharing among the participating nations.

He reiterated that regional stability and economic growth depend on moving past historical political disputes and establishing functional channels for cooperation.