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Regional Organizations in the developing World are generally marred due to political problems and bilateral disputes among their member states. However, improved relations among members can have a positive impact on the process of regionalism. Pakistan and India are the two major countries of South Asia and the main members of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). Generally, they had tense relations and also have fought wars since their independence in 1947. Interactions between their leaders can, however, help improve their bilateral ties. The paper analyzes the impact of SAARC summit diplomacy that enables regional leaders to meet quite often on regular basis, on bilateral relations of the two countries. SAARC summits have generally helped improve bilateral relations of India and Pakistan as they provided the forum and opportunities to the leaders of both countries to discuss mutual problems and concerns directly, both at official or unofficial level. They helped defuse tensions, mange crises, begin or resume parleys and negotiate or sign important bilateral agreements.
Keywords: SAARC, India, Pakistan, summit, diplomacy, dialogue, peace, conflicts.
Bilateral ties of India and Pakistan, the two principal powers in South Asia and the main members of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), bear far reaching implications for overall political atmosphere and the process of regionalism in South Asia. Both countries mostly have tense relations since their inception in 1947 because of their political problems and bilateral disputes including the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir, Siachen Glacier, Sir Creek, and construction of water reservoirs in India-held Kashmir (IJK). They fought two all-out wars, i.e. in 1965 and 1971; besides three limited ones, i.e. over control of Kashmir in 1948, Siachen Glacier in 1984 and Kargil sector in 1999. Time and again their forces stood eyeball to eyeball across their international border or Line of Control (L°C) that separates IJK from Pakistan-held (Azad) Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). These problems have not only marred their bilateral relations but also had adverse effects on the process of South Asian regionalism. It is widely believed that the bilateral disputes and political problems between India and Pakistan had mostly overshadowed the regional political environment that mainly caused ineffectiveness of SAARC. The organization was created in December 1985 to promote regional cooperation...