SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry Senior Vice President Iftikhar Ali Malik on Wednesday urged the SAARC member states to resolve their all kinds of issues on this regional platform instead of seeking arbitration from global super powers.
The economy has to be the most important agenda for the SAARC nations despite political challenges and compulsions, Iftikhar Malik said in a statement. The SAARC suffered badly because of Indian persistent and bigoted stance towards Pakistan and Indian foreign Minister Sushma Sawaraj's withdrawal from SAARC's Council of Ministers held on the sidelines of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly is nothing more than an attempt to derail the sustained peace process. He said Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi is right when he accused India of being an obstacle in promoting regional cooperation through SAARC. He said the Indian government should realize now that increased cooperation, contacts and exchanges among the countries of the region will contribute to the promotion of friendship and understanding among their peoples. He said that SAARC was established to promote that cooperation "within an institution framework".
Iftikhar Malik further suggested that economic agenda has to be the foremost important agenda for the political parties in the region. Unfortunately in our region it is not the top priority, somehow due to all ours thought process. "Thrusting the economic agenda foremost should be all ours guiding force for our relationships, he said. The tourism is also another important area that the SAARC nations can work together with, he added.