Nepal PM inaugurates SAARC ministerial meet

Reuters: Nepal’s Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli on Thursday (March 17) inaugurated the 37th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Council of Ministers meeting and called for enhanced co-operation among the eight member countries.

The foreign ministers and representatives from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are attending the meet in the resort town of Pokhara.

Oli rooted for economic progress of the region to alleviate poverty.

“South Asia is emerging as the potential global economic power. It is imperative that we build on this economic progress and its associated positive achievements to promote enhanced cooperation in line with the objectives of the SAARC,” Oli said.

The ministerial meet will set the date for the next SAARC Summit and select a new Secretary General for the body.

The squabbling between the rivals is considered a major reason for the poor performance of the eight-member SAARC, initially founded with the goal of moving towards a European-style union.

The Indian delegation is being led by Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj.

Swaraj interacted with Pakistan Prime Minister’s Advisor on Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz, along with other officials over the breakfast table.

The two are likely to hold bilateral talks on the sidelines of the ministerial meeting. This would be the first ministerial level talks between the two sides after Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad attacked an India air force base in northern Punjab in January this year.

Aziz is to invite India for the next SAARC Summit to be hosted by Pakistan.