Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 01:23pm on 30 Jun 2025,Monday International
Reports suggest that Pakistan and China are in advanced talks—boosted by a June 19 trilateral meeting in Kunming with Bangladesh—to launch a new South Asian bloc, potentially supplanting the dormant SAARC . The objective is to enhance regional trade, connectivity, and infrastructure cooperation among “willing” members, possibly including Sri Lanka, Maldives, Afghanistan and Bangladesh . Although India might be invited, its participation appears unlikely . The move reflects frustration over SAARC’s inactivity—last summit held in 2014—and signals Beijing and Islamabad's desire to reshape South Asian diplomacy. (The Hindu)
