India, Pak should develop good ties for SAARC: Maldives Prez

NEW DELHI: Making it clear that prosperity of South Asia is linked to relations between India and Pakistan, Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed today pressed the two countries to develop good ties and felt it was "doable".

He said the two countries should work from grassroots upwards to develop ties and in this regard suggested that Indian multinationals should invest in Pakistan.

The 43-year-old leader, whose country will host the next SAARC Summit next year, noted that India is witnessing rapid growth and it should "drag" its neighbours to be part of its economic progress to enable them to take advantage of it.

"Good relationship between India and Pakistan is important for SAARC and I think it is achievable and doable," he said.

Nasheed, who met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, emphasised that good relations between India and Pakistan are necessary for strengthening of the SAARC, particularly to boost intra-regional trade and build connectivity.

He pitched for increased interactions and exchanges between the entrepreneurs and other sections of India and Pakistan to develop friendly ties.

The Maldivian leader had surprised everyone during SAARC Summit in Bhutan in April when he said the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan should talk.

Recalling his advocacy at the SAARC Summit, he said he had to call "a spade a spade" to break the "impasse" as he felt that the Prime Ministers of the two countries had so much to talk about, especially as they were born in the same village in Pakistan.