# SAARC faces irrelevance as Pakistan blocks revival, says ABPLive 2026-08-09T07:44:04+00:00 | World & Diplomacy | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is fading due to a decade of summit-level paralysis, news.abplive.com reports. Pakistan's reluctance to engage constructively and cross-border terrorism are the main hurdles, the outlet says. India insists on a terrorism-free environment for cooperation. Intra-SAARC trade is below five per cent, far less than ASEAN's 25 per cent or the EU's 60 per cent. Smaller members like Maldives, frustrated with stagnation, have tried to mediate between India and Pakistan. The 100-acre South Asian University campus in New Delhi stands as a rare symbol of what regional collaboration could achieve. ## Coverage - news.abplive.com Tags: BIMSTEC, cross-border terrorism, Pakistan-India relations, regional trade, SAARC, South Asia Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/saarc-faces-irrelevance-as-pakistan-blocks-revival-says-abplive/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/saarc-faces-irrelevance-as-pakistan-blocks-revival-says-abplive/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.