SAARC Reads Riot Act To Pakistan, Asks It To Pay Outstanding Contribution For SAU Or Get Out

The South Asian Association For Regional Cooperation (SAARC) has warned Pakistan, asking it to pay up the amount Islamabad had promised to contribute towards the construction and operation of the South Asian University (SAU) in New Delhi. Pakistan is the only SAARC country that has not cleared its part of the contribution, $7.85 million, since the university came into existence in 2010.

The issue was discussed during the ninth meeting of the governing board of the university in Dhaka on 28 November 2016 and at the 53rd meeting of SAARC’s programming committee in Kathmandu early last month.

The regional grouping has warned Pakistan of reviewing its participation in the SAU initiative if it refuses to contribute towards the cause. The university was jointly established by the eight-member organisation to promote people to people contact and strengthen regional consciousness.

According to an official based in New Delhi, Pakistan’s response to this issue is in line with its “general policy of resisting all initiatives by the SAARC”. In the past, Pakistan has resisted SAARC-led road and railway connectivity projects, trade pacts and has not responded positively to proposals on counter-terrorism cooperation.