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SAARC encourages cooperation in agriculture, rural development, science and technology, culture, health, population control, narcotics control and anti-terrorism. SAARC has intentionally stressed these "core issues" and avoided more divisive political issues, above all the Kashmir dispute which bitterly divides the two largest member states, India and Pakistan. However, political dialogue is often conducted on the margins of SAARC meetings.

In 1993, SAARC countries signed an agreement gradually to lower tariffs within the region. Nine years later, at the 12th SAARC summit at Islamabad, SAARC countries devised the South Asia Free Trade Agreement which will creates a framework for the creation of a free trade zone covering 1.4 billion people.

1 List of SAARC summits

1. December 8, 1985 at DhakaCapitals in Asia Dhaka or Dacca , population 9,000,022 ( 2001), is the capital of Bangladesh. The city is situated on Buriganga, a channel of the Dhaleswari River, in the heart of the world's largest jute-growing region. It is the industrial, commercial,
2. November 17November 17 is also the name of a Marxist group in Greece. November 17 is the 321st day of the year (322nd in leap years), with 44 remaining. Events The Leonids are visible each year around this day. 1292 ( Julian calendar) John Balliol becomes King of Sc, 19861986 is a common year starting on Wednesday. Events January January 1 Spain and Portugal enter the European Community January 1 Aruba gains increased autonomy from the Netherlands and is separated from the Netherlands Antilles. January 9 After losing a pa at BangaloreBangalore Classification City Nicknames Silicon Valley of India, Garden City of India, Pensioners Paradise, Pub City of India Country India State Karnataka District Bangalore Language Kannada Time zone GMT+5:30 Importance Capital of Karnataka Information
3. November 4November 4 is the 308th day of the year (309th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 57 days remaining. Events 1576 Eighty Years' War: In Belgium, Spain captures Antwerp (after three days the city was nearly destroyed). 1612 Moscow China Town tak, 1987 at Kathmandu
4. December 31, 1988 at Islamabad
5. November 23, 1990 at Male
6. December 21, 1991 at Colombo
7. April 11, 1993 at Dhaka
8. May 4, 1995 at New Delhi
9. May 14, 1997 at Male
10. July 31, 1998 at Colombo
11. January 6, 2002 at Kathmandu
12. January 6, 2004 at Islamabad