8 July 2025, NIICE Commentary 11436
Richie Rex K
The recent Pahalgam terror attack has once again brought South Asia into sharp global focus, highlighting the region’s persistent vulnerability to terrorism. This tragic event not only deepens India’s internal security concerns but also exacerbates long-standing tensions with Pakistan, which India has often accused of supporting cross-border terrorism. Such incidents severely undermine the spirit of regional cooperation envisioned by South Asia Association Regional Cooperation (SAARC), which was established in 1985 to foster economic and social development but has deliberately stayed away from political and security issues. The organisation’s inability to respond collectively to terrorism reflects its structural limitations. In contrast, other regional organisations like ASEAN have taken more proactive stances on regional security matters. Neighbouring countries, while expressing condemnation, often remain diplomatically cautious, further reflecting the fragile unity within SAARC. For South Asia to overcome its challenges, a reimagined SAARC with a clear mandate on regional security cooperation is urgently needed.
Background
The India-Pakistan tensions, lack of trust among the member states, structural and absence of strong mechanism to resolve disputes contributed to the defunct state of the SAARC. SAARC summits have been defunct since the Uri Surgical strike in 2016. According to the SAARC Charter, promoting welfare, accelerating and fostering growth, collective self-reliance, mutual trust and understanding among the member states have been the core objectives of the regional inter-governmental organization. Following the Pahalgam attack, India-Pakistan tensions have escalated and turned the relationship of the two countries into an even irreconcilable state. The attack claimed 26 people, including 25 Indians and one Nepalese national and over 20 others were injured. The Resistance Front (TRF), a shadow group linked to Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Hizbul Mujahideen, claimed responsibility via social media. India launched and retaliated with ‘Operation Sindoor’ to send a strong message to highlight India’s commitment to national security.
Impact of the Pahalgam Terror attack
India and Pakistan's relationship has been strained due to terrorism and the Kashmir issue, affecting SAARC's functioning. In response, India took five major decisions: it announced the abeyance of the Indus Water Treaty to pressure Pakistan to cease supporting cross-border terrorism; expelled Pakistani military advisers stationed at the high commission in New Delhi and recalled its own military personnel from Islamabad; revoked all existing valid visas issued to Pakistani nationals; closed the Attari–Wagah border crossing, disrupting trade and travel; and launched precision airstrikes on terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Pakistan retaliated by closing its airspace to Indian flights, disrupting 70-100 overflights daily, suspending bilateral trade, and cancelling visas issued to Indian nationals. These actions have significantly strained the relationship between the two countries.
Response from SAARC nations
India’s immediate South Asian neighbours—Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka—were among the first to issue strong condemnations. Bhutan stressed its “solidarity and friendship” with India, while Sri Lanka reaffirmed its commitment to countering terrorism. Pakistan also condemned the attack, though it firmly denied any involvement and rejected India’s allegations of cross-border support for terrorism.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan categorically condemns the recent attack on tourists in the Pahalgam region of J&K, and expresses condolences to the bereaved families,” said Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Abdul Qahar Balkhi, in a statement. The ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated Nepal’s zero-tolerance policy toward terrorism, adding: “Nepal strongly condemns all forms of terrorism and believes that such heinous acts can never be justified under any circumstances.” Bangladesh’s Muhammad Yunus also condemned the attack as a heinous act and reiterate that it stands against terrorism.
After India’s decision to attack Pakistan after the incident, a former Bangladesh army officer and close aide of Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus suggested that Dhaka should collaborate with China to occupy India’s Northeastern states if it attacks Pakistan in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. It was a reckless and misguided statement during a critical national security crisis.
Around 60 countries condemned the attack but majority of the countries didn’t specifically mention or blamed Pakistan for the act of terrorism. Many of the Global South countries choose to remain silent. The reaction to this underscores the importance and the rise of India in the international diplomacy. India’s role on the international stage has become very significant as it develops its economy and military to strengthen ties and stand shoulder to shoulder with the great powers.
Impact on South Asian Assistance for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)
“The Indus Water Treaty is held in abeyance and will continue to be held in abeyance until the cross-border terrorism by Pakistan is credibly and irrevocably stopped.” Quotes External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. Firstly, the India-Pakistan tensions have strained the relationships of these two countries. The inability to resolve and have an understanding dialogue in terms of terrorism and Kashmir issue has led to the hindered cooperation with SAARC. The behaviour of ambiguity, lack of trust and constant disagreements between the two nations have made the regional organization very challenging to function effectively. Secondly, despite credible evidence of Pakistan in the cross-border issue, the silence of the South Asian and Global South nation on Pakistan’s involvement reveals a lot of messages on how diplomatic strategy works in international stage. Thirdly, the SAARC nation’s absence of call for dialogue between the two countries reveal the loopholes in the structure of SAARC. For Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the ASEAN Protocol on Enhanced Dispute Settlement Mechanism provides a framework for resolving disputes arising from ASEAN economic disagreements; The EU international agreement has a dispute settlement mechanism; the African Union (AU) has a dispute settlement board under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement; SAARC also has a dispute settlement board but it is not stable. Due to India-Pakistan conflict, lack of trust among the member states, board’s limited jurisdiction to trade and economic disputes restricted its ability to address broader regional issues like terrorism, security issues and border issues etc.
Regular summits and dialogues between SAARC nations can foster unity and cooperation. Establishing a robust dispute resolution mechanism can help mitigate distrust and promote a collaborative environment. Additionally, promoting cultural events, arts, and literature can facilitate gradual progress in nurturing better relationships and fostering regional collaboration, ultimately enhancing people-to-people interactions and cooperation among member states.
Conclusion
The India-Pakistan tensions, exacerbated by the Pahalgam terror attack, have severely impacted SAARC's effectiveness. The lack of trust, strained relationships, and absence of a strong dispute resolution mechanism have hindered regional cooperation. To revitalize SAARC, regular summits and dialogues, a robust dispute resolution mechanism, and cultural exchanges can help foster unity, mitigate distrust, and promote collaboration among member states. By addressing these challenges, SAARC can realize its full potential and promote regional cooperation, stability, and prosperity.
Richie Rex is a Research Intern at NIICE and is currently pursuing his Master's in International Relations at Loyola College, Chennai, India.
