India blames Pakistan for SAARC deadlock

India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has reiterated its position regarding the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), stating that the regional body remains in an impasse due to the actions of one specific country, identified as Pakistan. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal noted that while India favors strong regional cooperation, certain activities are stymying the organization’s progress.

The comments follow Bhutan’s nomination of Dasho Sonam Topgay to serve as the 16th SAARC Secretary-General. This nomination comes as the current Secretary-General, Golam Sarwar of Bangladesh, approaches the end of his three-year term in late October. Under SAARC’s alphabetical rotation system, Bhutan holds the right to appoint the next head of the regional secretariat.

If the remaining seven member nations—Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka—approve the proposal, Topgay is expected to assume leadership by late October.