India's Modi Makes Multiple Pledges To SAARC, Calls For Unity

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday made a slew of promises on crucial development at the opening of a regional leaders' summit, insisting his vision for India and the region were identical.
Encouraging the eight members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) to move beyond the "shadows of the past," he admitted the three decade old regional bloc had not achieved the integration its founders' envisioned.
"Nowhere are collective efforts more important than in South Asia and nowhere else it is more moderate," he told leaders at the opening ceremony of the 18th SAARC Summit held in Nepal's capital city Kathmandu.
"We face a long climb to the summit of development but I have confidence in our boundless potential. There is much to learn from each other and even more to do together," he emphasized.
In an attempt to fast-track much needed integration, Modi pledged to assist funding for infrastructure in the region, streamline customs duties at borders, provide 3-5 year business visas to investors and implement a travelers' card for the bloc.
Immediate medical visa was also assured along with funds to set up a laboratory to combat tuberculosis in the region. India will also release vaccines to rid SAARC of polio.
"When we speak of SAARC we hear two reactions, I'm sorry to say. Today less than 5 percent global trade take place between members and less than 1 percent of India's companies invest in SAARC. Still harder and expensive to travel within the region. How much have we done to put our resources into shared prosperity?" he questioned.
Insisting India's trade surplus with many of its neighbors is " neither right nor sustainable," the premier noted he will "address concerns and create a level playing field."
Indian companies will also be urged to invest regionally and local businesses in SAARC countries to source capital from the sub- continent.
Indian universities will establish online courses and e- libraries to provide skills to millions of youth in SAARC member nations, he added.
Modi is expected to hold bilateral talks with many leaders of the SAARC members and observers but reports indicate he will not meet with his Pakistani counterpart, Nawaz Sharif, who is also attending the summit that wraps up on Thursday.
The eight SAARC members will hold discussions for collective development at the two-day summit themed "Deeper Integration for Peace and Prosperity."
Established in 1985 in Bangladesh, SAARC groups Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Afghanistan joined SAARC as its eighth member in 2007. (Cihan/Xinhua)