SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation)

Members: India + Indian padosis (except China (ek Jungle mein do sher nahi) and Myanmar-it falls in East ie SE Asia)

Members: (Clockwise)

1. Afghanistan
2. Pakistan
3. India
4. Nepal
5. Bhutan
6. Bangladesh
7. Sri Lanka
8. Maldives

• SAARC compromises 3% of the world's area, 21% of the world's population and 9.12% of the global economy, as of 2015.
• SAARC maintains permanent diplomatic relations at the UN as an observer.
• Secretariat in Kathmandu

News:

India's satellite 'gift' for SAARC to be up in Dec 2016

(Mar, 2015) Source BS

India's satellite for the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Region is expected to be on the space by end of 2016. Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year asked the Indian Space Research Organsiation (Isro) to develop a satellite, which India can gift to the neighbours.

“Such a satellite will be helpful in SAARC nations’ fight against poverty and illiteracy, the challenge to progress in scientific field, and will open up avenues to provide opportunities to the youth of SAARC countries.

Till date, only two SAARC countries - India and Pakistan - have sent satellites in space, but several others are trying to follow.

According to reports, amongst the SAARC countriies, India got the maximum number of satellites operating in various orbits. According to SpaceReview.com, Pakistan's first indigenously developed satellite was launched from China on July 16, 1990. This satellite is no longer operational.

Pakistan opts out of SAARC satellite project

(March 2016) Source: Link

“Pakistan has decided to opt out of the satellite project. So it cannot be called a SAARC satellite. It will be a South Asia satellite,” External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson  said.