Transparent governments needed to counter extremism, says US at SAARC

The United States believe that economic connectivity is not enough for enduring peace and prosperity of the South Asia region that the SAARC member states are seeking.

Its Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Desai Biswal has pitched for transparent and accountable government with strong democracy.

Representing the US, at the 18th SAARC summit, Biswal said with “transparent accountable and inclusive governments SAARC members can more effectively counter the negative forces of extremism and terrorism and provide more hopeful future for the people of South Asia”.

The US became an observer of SAARC in 2007.

Representatives of the nine observers spoke at the inauguration at Kathmandu.

Expressing satisfaction over the elections held in most of the SAARC countries in the past 18 months, she said they were essential for development of democracy in South Asia region.

She said it was the time for the South Asia to be proud of the fact that every country of this region is a democracy.

She also lauded the recent power trade agreement reached between Nepal and India.

Biswal said since their joining SAARC, they had witnessed the region’s rapid economic rise and growing importance.

She said this year’s theme ‘deeper integration for peace and prosperity’ could not be “more timely and appropriate” for the region as it would be the most populous area in the world by 2060.

She said for all the countries of the region “the need of the hour is for a South Asia that is connected through trade and transit, where goods and people can move more freely, power trading and water sharing become the currency of connectivity”.

She said the US would fully support the regional efforts of connectivity and integration.

Biswal will go to Dhaka after completing the summit on Thursday.