China, Pakistan, and Bangladesh Plan New Regional Alliance as SAARC Alternative

China and Pakistan are collaboratively working on forming a new regional alliance in South Asia, potentially involving Bangladesh, which could serve as an alternative to the long-dormant South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). According to Pakistan’s *Express Tribune*, a recent tripartite meeting held in Kunming, China, on June 19, 2025, involving China, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, marked a significant step toward this initiative.

Diplomatic sources indicate that Islamabad and Beijing have made substantial progress in planning this new alliance, emphasizing the need for a fresh framework to enhance regional integration through expanded trade and connectivity. The proposed alliance aims to strengthen economic ties, connectivity, and cooperation across South Asia, potentially including countries like Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Afghanistan, though India is unlikely to join due to its distinct strategic interests.

SAARC, once envisioned as South Asia’s equivalent to the European Union, has been largely ineffective due to India-Pakistan tensions and political complexities. The last SAARC summit took place in 2014, with a planned 2016 summit in Islamabad boycotted by India and, notably, Bangladesh, which was then closely aligned with New Delhi. SAARC’s functionality further deteriorated after India revoked special visa facilities for Pakistani businesses following an attack in Pehelgam, Kashmir, casting uncertainty over the organization’s future.

Against this backdrop, China and Pakistan have been engaging like-minded nations for months to establish a new regional platform. Analysts suggest that if formed, this alliance could not only foster economic collaboration but also serve as a strategic and ideological counterweight in the region. Meanwhile, India’s waning interest in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), evidenced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s absence from its last two summits, highlights a shift in regional dynamics. The SCO includes major powers like China, Russia, Iran, and Pakistan, alongside Central Asian states.

The proposed alliance could reshape South Asia’s geopolitical landscape, offering a new avenue for regional cooperation amid SAARC’s stagnation.