SAARC: An Evaluation of liberal economic Order in South Asia

Abstract

SAARC was established in 1985 in the aim to cooperation and economic growth among South Asian countries. The term economic liberal order is greatly proficient in regional trading partnerships than the global level. In South Asia, it was introduced through SAARC, because it is one of the main goals to promote trade among south Asian countries especially between India and Pakistan. This study will evaluate the efficiency of SAARC and Pakistan-India trade relations under the SAFTA regime. It will also highlight the trade liberalization procedure in the South Asia. Without trade liberalization, Regional integration is impossible where SAARC is working on the program of financial combination. This study shows that power asymmetries in SAARC have slowed down the trade liberalization process. India needs to rethink its role in SAARC as it has often complicated the trade process on the SAARC platform by creating hard and soft power. Though, this study deals to understanding the relationship among regional mixing and the liberal economic order under SAARC in South Asia.