In a final ice-breaking moment that gave a huge boost to SAARC and the floundering regional cooperation, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shook hands with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif, laughed and even patted him on the arm at the closing ceremony of the organisation’s 18th summit here on Thursday.
The effect of the handshake and the informal talks the two leaders had earlier at the retreat session in a resort in Dhulikhel was immediately reflected in the proposed agreements as the eight South Asian countries managed to salvage their summit by agreeing to a last-minute deal to trade electricity among them after Pakistan torpedoed proposals backed by India and other nations of the bloc for greater regional connectivity. The leaders also renewed their commitment to achieve South Asian Economic Union (SAEU) in a phased and planned manner.
The handshake led to a resounding applause from a relieved audience comprising leaders, diplomats and officials from the eight South Asian countries.
In a photo-op that appeared to belie the recent animosity between the two neighbours, Modi and Sharif kept their handshake for several seconds and chatted, smiling all the while, as Nepal Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, the host of the summit, looked on happily. The two had otherwise studiously ignored each other during the summit on Wednesday, the sixth anniversary of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks that India has blamed on Pakistani elements.
As soon as Nepal Prime Minister Koirala declared the session closed, Modi turned to the immediate neighbour to his right, Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, and shook hands and chatted. He then shook hands with Maldives President Abdulla Yameen, and with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, as the group was joined by Sri lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Pakistan Prime Minister Sharif was away from the group, talking to a Nepali Minister, while Nepal Prime Minister Koirala was looking awkwardly on, standing in the midst of the two rival prime ministers.Just when the question was on everyone’s mind - will they, won’t they - Modi finished chatting with his group of SAARC leaders, turned around and spoke to the Nepali Prime Minister, and stepped ahead to shake hands with Sharif.
Modi and Sharif smiled warmly at each other, and kept their hands clasped all the while as they chatted like old friends. Earlier, away from the glare of cameras, both Modi and Sharif held informal talks at the Dhulikhel retreat Thursday afternoon, those present said.
Before the SAARC Summit concluded here, Foreign Ministers of all the eight countries signed the framework agreement on cooperation in power sector which will ensure electricity trading through grid connectivity but the two pacts on motor vehicle and railways could not be inked following resistance by Pakistan.
Pakistan had opposed the energy pact citing non-completion of internal process but finally agreed to sign it after heads of states and Governments took up the matter with Nawaz Sharif at a retreat session in a resort in Dhulikhel.SAARC chair and Nepal Prime Minister Sushil Koirala announced at the concluding session that three months’ time has been fixed for according approval to the connectivity pacts which will encourage people-to-people contact and movement of goods.
At the end of the two-day SAARC summit, which took place after a gap of three years, a ‘Kathmandu Declaration’ was adopted which said the leaders recognised that after nearly 30 years of its existence, it was time to “reinvigorate” SAARC’s regional cooperation and “revitalise” the bloc as an effective vehicle to fulfill the developmental aspirations of the people.
Describing the summit as “successful”, India’s External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said there were some “difficulties” yesterday which were resolved in a “graduated” manner.He said the Indian side returns “satisfied” with Modi’s “first successful SAARC Summit”.
The declaration said the leaders unequivocally condemned terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms and manifestations and underlined the need for effective cooperation among the member states to combat them.The summit declaration identified trade as a key area with leaders renewing their commitment to achieve South Asian Economic Union (SAEU) in a phased and planned manner through a free trade area, a customs union, a common market, and a common economic and monetary union.
The SAARC also directed SAFTA Ministerial Council and SAFTA Committee of Experts to accelerate free trade in goods and services in the region by putting into operation simplified and transparent rules of origin, trade facilitation and removing technical barriers to trade. They also called for early operationalisation of SATIS (SAARC Agreement on Trade in Services) by finalising the schedule of commitments.
The leaders also agreed to strengthen the Social Window of the SAARC Development Fund (SDF) and operationalise its Economic Window and Infrastructure Window at the earliest for effective implementation of regional and sub-regional projects.Expressing strong determination to deepen regional integration for peace, stability and prosperity in South Asia, the leaders stressed on intensifying cooperation in trade, investment, finance, energy, security, infrastructure, connectivity and culture as well as implementing projects in a result-oriented and time-bound manner.
On the connectivity pacts, the declaration said it was agreed to hold a meeting of the transport ministers within three months in order to finalise the agreements for approval.“The leaders emphasised the need for linking South Asia with contiguous regions, including Central Asia, and beyond by all modes of connectivity and directed relevant authorities to initiate national, regional and sub regional measures and necessary arrangements,” the declaration said.