New Delhi: After the Uri attack, in its strongest diplomatic response, India has boycotted the upcoming South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) summit in Islamabad.

The announcement, was followed by confirmations from senior Afghan, Bhutanese and Bangladeshi officials that they too had articulated concerns to Nepal, the current Saarc chair, about attending the summit in Pakistan.

Here's everything you must know about SAARC:

  • In South Asia, The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is regional intergovernmental organization and geopolitical union.

  • Its member states include India, Bangladesh ,Bhutan , Afghanistan, Nepal, the Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

  • As of 2015, SAARC comprises 3% of the world's area.

  • SAARC consists 21% of the world's population and 9.12% of the global economy.

  • SAARC was founded in Dhaka in 1985.

  • In Kathmandu, its secretariat is based.

  • In 2006, it launched the South Asian Free Trade Area.

  • In 2005, Afghanistan formally applied for membership.

  • States with observer status include Australia, China, the European Union, Iran, Japan, Mauritius, Myanmar, South Korea and the United States.

  • Myanmar has expressed interest in upgrading its status from an observer to a full member of SAARC.