The thaw at SAARC

The report, “

>Modi, Sharif break the ice ” (Nov.28), displayed along with a photograph showing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif greeting each other, is a relief. Citizens across SAARC wish for a cordial relationship between all constituents of the Association. I was reminded of Mahatma Gandhi’s quote: “In a gentle way, you can shake the world.”

A.J. Rangarajan,

Chennai

The blow-hot, blow-cold attitude of India and Pakistan as far as their bilateral relationship is concerned will not fetch dividends for the two countries, for South Asia or for SAARC.

Jagmohan Kanwal,

Baran, Rajasthan

Leaders of the U.S. and the erstwhile Soviet Union were known to exchange pleasantries even at the height of the Cold War. But this does not seem to be the case with the leaders of India and Pakistan. While Mr. Modi is reported to have taken ‘refuge’ behind a booklet, Mr. Sharif laboured hard to be seen as not pausing to greet his Indian counterpart. This may have passed with the handshake at the closing ceremony, but the fact remains that a thaw in India-Pakistan relations cannot be delayed indefinitely.

G. David Milton,

Maruthancode

The fact that much that happens in the SAARC region rests on the whims and fancies of India and Pakistan shows that SAARC must be disbanded as it is waste of money — but not of time as our leaders will find other ways of enjoying life. The report shows that the Association is just a forum for a game of India-Pakistan one-upmanship.

Santhosh Mathew V.,

Puducherry