The promise of regional cooperation through the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, or SAARC, remains stalled. Without the equal participation and leadership of women, freedom will remain incomplete. History shows that peace agreements are stronger and more durable when women participate as highlighted in UN Women’s “Facts and figures: Women, peace, and security” factsheet. So I ask: Can we imagine a South Asia where a child can cross a border as easily as crossing a street? (The writer is a concerned citizen of India who believes in a South Asian identity rooted in peace.