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

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 the grassroot level 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.

Observing that agreements often get stuck in wordings, the Maldivian president said India and Pakistan should "try and see if grassroots can work out" instead of trying to have a settlement in a huge, big forum.

"Let's get the basics moving and then the politicians, strategists and thinkers who are trying to draw up a document (can build on that)," said Nasheed, who spent several years in jail as the main opposition leader before defeating long-time incumbent Muamoon Abdul Gayoom to become the president in November 2008.

He noted that India is progressing rapidly and its neighbours could take advantage of this, a view which New Delhi has been trying to promote with countries of the region for long.

"I just think India has to drag everyone else along and it can. It has the necessary momentum. It has strength to do that," he said.

When referred to allegations by some South Asian nations that India tries to play a "big brother" and "hegemonise" smaller neighbours, Nasheed said he did not feel so.

Instead, he said India and particularly Prime Minister Manmohan Singh have been making efforts to "go out of way" to reach out to smaller countries.

"That kind of attitude is always visible from India," said the Maldivian leader, who has spent a number of years in jail as opposition leader before becoming the President.

"India is a very strong economic power, a super power and in my understanding and my estimation, it is a very understanding country specially for other small countries," he said.