SAFTA’s Unrealized Potential: Political, Economic, and Infrastructural Impediments and the Promise of Regional Integration for Peace-Building Introduction The South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA), established in 2006 under the framework of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), was envisioned as a milestone toward deeper regional economic integration in one of the least economically … Continue reading What are the major political, economic, and infrastructural impediments that have prevented SAFTA from achieving its full potential? To what extent can regional economic integration in South Asia contribute to peace-building and conflict resolution between member states?