India asks Pakistan to comply with SAFTA commitment

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

New Delhi, Mar 19 (UNI) With two weeks to the 14th SAARC Summit, India today asked Pakistan to comply with its international commitments about SAFTA and emphasised that SAARC nations should ''walk on both legs''--resolving political differences and expanding economic integration simultaneously.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, in his speech at the RIS/SACEPS Conference on 'Economic Cooperation in SAARC : SAFTA and Beyond', expressed concern at Pakistan's non-compliance with SAFTA and hoped that Islamabad would reverse its position. He warned that SAFTA and regional economic cooperation would otherwise, contiunue to remain fragile.

''We have raised our serious concerns regarding non-compliance with SAFTA by Pakistan and we expect it to revise its position to ensure that international commitments that it has solemnly undertaken, are complied with. Otherwise, SAFTA and the process of regional economic cooperation will continue to remain fragile. I would emphasise that in the sub-continent, we must begin to walk on both legs--simultaneoulsy resolving political differences and expanding economic cooperation,'' he said.

Stressing on focussing on regional economic integration, Mr Mukherjee also called for 'de-politicising' cross-border energy projects and insteaad creating a framework for mutually- beneficial energy inter-dependence.

He also called for a 'pan-ASIAN' FTA which, he said, would be the future of Asia and open new growth avenues for SAARC countries.

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