Pakistan, SAARC and ASEAN Relations

Dynamics within the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) have often been influenced by bilateral relations between its two largest member economies, India and Pakistan. While SAARC grapples with challenges to regional cooperation, ASEAN has often been regarded as a model for SAARC and India and Pakistan have formalized relations with ASEAN to different degrees: Pakistan is a sectoral dialogue partner of ASEAN, while India has become a Summit level partner as well as being included in the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). This article addresses the implications of improved intra-SAARC relations between India and Pakistan and what this might mean to Pakistan and ASEAN relations as Pakistan seeks to achieve parity with India in this regard.