Benazir Bhutto also recognized the importance of regional cooperation in promoting peace and stability.

 

Benazir Bhutto, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, recognized the importance of regional cooperation in promoting peace and stability. During her tenure as Prime Minister, she made significant efforts to strengthen ties with neighboring countries and promote regional integration.


Bhutto was a strong advocate for the development of regional economic cooperation and was instrumental in the creation of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) in 1985. SAARC is a regional intergovernmental organization that promotes economic and cultural cooperation among its member countries, which include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

Bhutto also made efforts to improve relations with India, particularly in the area of trade and commerce. In 1988, she signed the historic Islamabad Declaration with Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, which aimed to improve bilateral relations between the two countries.

Overall, Bhutto's emphasis on regional cooperation and integration was a reflection of her belief that peace and stability could only be achieved through collective efforts and mutual understanding between nations.