History seems to be repeating itself in South Asia as the region’s smaller nations once again demand the revitalization of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). Unsurprisingly, it is the smaller South Asian nations that are keener on SAARC. In both periods, a Bangladeshi administration that sought to redefine its relationship with India placed South Asian regional cooperation near the center of its foreign policy. And it seems that in 2026, the situation South Asian countries face is quite similar to the late 1970s. The smaller South Asian nations are setting the table, laying out the plates for a family dinner, while the two eldest brothers refuse to leave their rooms.