SAARC: History

June 3, 1905 Foreign ministry officials of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka meet for the first time in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

1983 At an international conference held in New Delhi, India the foreign ministers of the seven countries adopt the Declaration on South Asian Association Regional Coopoeration (SAARC) and formally launched the Integrated Programme of Action (IPA).

1985 SAARC is established when its charter is formally approved. First Summit is held in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

2004 The agreement on the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) is signed.

2007 Afghanistan becomes a member of SAARC during the 14th SAARC Summit.

2009 Australia, China, the EU, Iran, Japan, Mauritius, Myanmar, South Korea, and the United States become observers of SAARC.