South Asian regional cooperation problems and prospects

Abstract

The b eginning of t h e n inteen eigh ties witn essed the ushring of a new era of cooperation among the seven countries of South Asia---Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sr i Lanka. The idea of regional cooperation is not new. However, it acquired a new momentum after World War II, when many countries had to meet new political and economic challenges. Conceptually, regional cooperation means association among states within a region to promote common object i ves, meet common needs and resolve common problems. Their commonalLV of interest is, therefore, t h e cen tra l force f or reg i on a l coop eration amon g them and also for det e rmining the modality , including institutional arrangements fo r such coop eration . Through this medium, the states of a region attempt to harmonize their differences. Accordingly, regional cooperation promotes greater interaction and increases interdependence amongst the states of a region. It is also seen as an instrument of peace and overall progress of a region.