Kathmandu: Pakistan has stalled the signing of SAARC connectivity agreement saying it is yet to complete its “internal process”. Â
The decision on Wednesday comes after other member countries including India and Sri Lanka strongly pitched for the strengthening of people-to-people contact and movement of goods in the region.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his speech at the Summit said, “Our relations become stronger when we connect the lives of the ordinary citizens of our countries. That is why connectivity and services by rail and road are so important. We should also connect ourselves more by air.”
India’s vision for the region rests on five pillars – “trade, investment, assistance, cooperation in every area, contacts between our people – and, all through seamless connectivity.”
Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapaksa said better connectivity will help economic integration and will boost people-to-people contact in the region.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said her country was in favour of early signing of the regional motor vehicle and railway agreements and said the pacts will help trade.
On the connectivity pacts, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said these agreements were discussed at various senior levels and there was no objection from any country but one state has indicated that they need approvals of their internal processes. However, he did not divulge the name of the county.
Noting that SAARC works on the consensus which was smart and efficient way of working, Akbaruddin said India hopes some “tangible” outcomes as the eight-member bloc has often being accused of not moving fast.
Ahead of the visit by Prime Minister Modi to attend the summit, the cabinet had cleared the signing and ratifying of the SAARC Motor Vehicles Agreement and SAARC Regional Railways Agreement by India, as a member state of SAARC.