Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other SAARC leaders have reached Dhulikhel in Kavre district of Nepal, 20 km east of Kathmandu, for a retreat. They are expected to make a last ditch effort to push Pakistani Premier Nawaz Sharif to ink the regional connectivity agreements. Retreat is a tradition of SAARC Summit where leaders hold private, unofficial bilateral and multilateral talks in a relaxed and more informal atmosphere.

It also provides an opportunity to quell disagreements on unresolved issues. Since Pakistan has stalled the inking of SAARC connectivity on the pretext that they have not completed the internal process, the leaders are expected to convey their keenness to ink the pacts. After the retreat, Nepal Prime Minister Mr. Sushil Koirala will host a lunch for the heads of government. Concluding session of the Summit will be held at Rashtriya Sabha Graha at Kathmandu in the evening.