Question

Who proposed the idea of establishing SAARC?

• A. Indira Gandhi
• B. General Zia ul Haq
• C. General Ziaur Rahman
• D. General Ershad

Hint:

Remember the key figures behind the formation of major international groupings. For SAARC, the credit for the initial proposal goes to President Ziaur Rahman of Bangladesh.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question asks who first proposed the concept of a regional cooperation body in South Asia, which eventually led to the formation of SAARC.
Step 2: Key Concept:
SAARC stands for the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. It is a regional intergovernmental organization and geopolitical union of states in South Asia.
Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
The idea for regional cooperation in South Asia was first formally proposed by Ziaur Rahman, the then President of Bangladesh, in the late 1970s.
He addressed letters to the heads of government of the countries of South Asia, presenting his vision for the future of the region and the arguments for cooperation.
After several rounds of diplomatic consultations and meetings of foreign secretaries and ministers, the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was formally established on 8 December 1985.
- General Zia-ul-Haq was the President of Pakistan.
- General Ershad was a later President of Bangladesh.
Step 4: Final Answer
The idea of establishing SAARC was first proposed by the President of Bangladesh, General Ziaur Rahman.