With reference to the recent developments regarding SAARC and Maldives-Pakistan relations, consider the following statements: 1. Maldives, Bangladesh, and Nepal are seeking a revival of SAARC. 2. India attributes the stall of the SAARC summit to an attack in J&K in 2017. 3. Maldives and Pakistan signed 20 MoUs regarding defence and maritime cooperation. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Maldives President Muizzu visits Pakistan to offer mediation between India and Pakistan

GS2Polity · Governance · IR· India's bilateral relations· Mains· 22 October 2026

Regional integration and SAARC dynamics: a key GS2 International Relations case study.

Why in news

Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu visited Pakistan to offer mediation between India and Pakistan and called for an early SAARC summit.

Background

Maldives and Pakistan signed 20 MoUs regarding defence and maritime cooperation during the visit. While Maldives, Bangladesh, and Nepal seek a revival of SAARC, India attributes the stall to Pakistan following a 2016 attack in J&K.

Facts for Prelims

PlaceIslamabad: The site of the scheduled SAARC summit that was stalled
Fact20 MoUs were signed between Maldives and Pakistan regarding defence and maritime cooperation

Prelims practice question

With reference to the recent developments regarding SAARC and Maldives-Pakistan relations, consider the following statements:

Maldives, Bangladesh, and Nepal are seeking a revival of SAARC.
India attributes the stall of the SAARC summit to an attack in J&K in 2017.
Maldives and Pakistan signed 20 MoUs regarding defence and maritime cooperation.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)2 only
(b)3 only
(c)1 and 3 only
(d)2 and 3 only

Show answer

Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only — Statements 1 and 3 are correct. Statement 2 is incorrect: The note states the attack occurred in 2016.

For Mains

Q. Discuss the geopolitical hurdles and internal security concerns that have hindered the functional efficacy of SAARC since 2016.

Dimensions to cover in your answer

Security-Diplomacy Paradox: Cross-border terrorism and bilateral hostility overriding regional economic integration
Institutional Stagnation: Lack of a consensus-based mechanism to bypass bilateral disputes for multilateral progress

Keywords: Regional Integration · Geopolitical Friction · Mediation · Multilateralism · Security Dilemma

Read the full news →Report a mistake in this note How notes are made Source: Times of India ↗Also: GS3 · Terrorism & insurgency (J&K, North-East)

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