South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)

SAARC Secretariat is in Kathmandu (Nepal).
It was formed in December 1985 in Dhaka on the idea put forward by then Bangladesh President Zia-ur-Rahman.
SAARRC members are India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Maldives and Afghanistan.
On April 3, 2017, Afghanistan became the latest member country to join SAARC at the 14th summit in New Delhi.
SAARC aims to promote people's welfare, social and cultural development and combat cooperation with other developing countries.
A decade of 2001 to 2010 has been declared by SAARC as the Decade of the Rights of the Child.
SAFTA (South Asia Free Trade area) became effective from January 2006.
Maldives president Maumon Abdul Gayoom is the only South Asian leader who has attended the first fourteen SAARC summits.
Present Secretary General of SAARC is Mr. Esala Ruwan Weerakoon, took office on 01 March 2020.