Historic moment, says PM Modi on launch of South Asian Satellite

NEW DELHI: Pakistan found itself isolated Friday evening as the six other South Asian states praised New Delhi’s vision of collective development, with a satellite dedicated to the region blasting off from a site near India’s eastern water margin to help reinforce the message of broader scientific co-operation among the member-states.

The South Asian Satellite became a pronounced symbol of regional collaboration and unity of purpose, with the leaders of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka joining Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a video-conference to celebrate the vehicle’s launch. Pakistan had earlier decided to exclude itself from this initiat ive as it claimed that it had its own ‘satellite programme’.



Modi took to Twitter to announce the support from the regional leadership. “I congratulate the team of scientists who worked hard for the successful launch of South Asia Satellite. We are very proud of them. @isro. The historic occasion has been made better with a surprise- we have leaders of South Asian nations joining us in celebrating this launch. I welcome President @ashrafghani, PM Hasina, PM @tsheringtobgay, @ presidencymv Abdulla Yameen, PM Prachanda, President @ MaithripalaS,” the Prime Minister said in his Twitter messages. In a sense, the satellite’s launch served as a summit meeting of the SAARC leadership, without representation from Islamabad. “Even the sky is not the limit when it comes to regional cooperation,” noted Modi.