2 SAARC members unlikely to back Pakistan's idea of a greater South Asia, including China and Iran. Pakistan is exploring the possibility of creating a greater South Asian economic alliance to counter India's controlling hold on the eight-member South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc), diplomatic observers said. "A greater South Asia is already emerging," said Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed, in one of his interactions with the media. "This greater South Asia includes China, Iran and the neighbouring Central Asian republics." Afghanistan's presence in SAARC, however, justifies Pakistan's argument that Central Asian nations can be included in a greater South Asia.

Source: India Today October 12, 2016 06:00 UTC