India expresses disappointment over Pakistan blocking the signing of SAARC connectivity agreements, including motor vehicle pact. Addressing media in Kathmandu this evening, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesman, Syed Akbarudin said though India is disappointed being a SAARC nation but it is otherwise already pursuing its connectivity agenda with some SAARC members. He said, it could be raised as a major discussion point tomorrow.
Akbaruddin made it clear that it was not India’s proposal but of SAARC sacretariat's Meanwhile, Nepal Foreign Minister Mahendra Bahadur Pandey said his country will make all efforts to ensure that the connectivity pacts, are signed before the SAARC declaration tomorrow.
Mr. Akbarudin said that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi had structured meetings with heads of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Maldives and have discussed various issues including satellite, solar energy, medical and terrorism too. However, he clarified that since there was no formal request from Pakistan side for a meeting so it did not happen. He said the Prime Minister Modi and Afghanistan President Dr. Ashraf Ghani who had met for the first time today discussed to strengthen their relations.
Dr Ghani has accepted the invitation of Mr. Modi to visit India coming January. Meanwhile, Dr. Ghani has assured the Indian Prime Minister about the security of Indian consulate in view of threat perception to the mission. A fairly extensive discussion between Indian and Bangladesh Prime Ministers was held to tackle the menace of terrorism.
Akbarudin said Mr. Modi has indicated that National Security Advisor would be visiting Sri Lanka and Maldives in the coming months to discuss issues related to maritime security besides some others.
Prime Minister has invited Bhutan Prime Minister Mr. Tshering Tobgay to attend Vibrant Gujarat coming January which has been accepted by Mr. Tobgay.
Earlier, addressing the inaugural function of two-day South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation at Kathmandu today, the Prime Minister said that India's vision for SAARC rests on five pillars of trade, investment, assistance, cooperation and contacts between our people. He said that there is a need to improve connectivity among the people of SAARC region.
Raising the issue of 26/11 incident in Mumbai, on this date six years back in which hundreds of people were killed in the financial capital of the country, Mr. Narendra Modi said we remember the horror of the terror attack in 2008. He said we still see the endless pain of lost lives.
Prime Minister called upon all the SAARC members to work together to fulfill the pledge we have taken to combat terrorism and trans-national crimes. Calling for the sensitivity to each others security and lives of the people, he said this will deepen friendships, spur cooperation and advance stability in our region. Mr. Modi said that India will provide immediate medical visa for patients and attendants from the people of the SAARC region who wish to come to India for medical treatment.
Calling for greater economic cooperation between the nations of the region he said that less than 10 percent region internal trade take place under SAARC Free Trade Area.
