BSS, New Delhi :
Leaders of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) member states is expected to join a video conference on Sunday for “chalking out a strong strategy to fight Coronavirus”.
“The video conference of SAARC leaders to frame a strategy to counter coronavirus, mooted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is expected to be held on Sunday,” the Hindustan Times, a vernacular Indian daily, reported on Saturday citing sources familiar with the development.
All member states of SAARC including Bangladesh have endorsed the proposal made by the Indian premier on Friday. Pakistan, the last member state to agree, has said its de-facto health minister will join the video conference.
In a tweet message on Friday, Prime Minister Modi proposed that the leadership of SAARC nations chalk out a strong strategy to fight Coronavirus. “We could discuss, via video conferencing, ways to keep our citizens healthy,” he tweeted.
Modi said, “Together, we can set an example to the world, and contribute to a healthier planet as our planet is battling the COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus”.
“The South Asia, which is home to a significant number of the global population, should leave no stone unturned to ensure our people are healthy,” he added.
Hours after Modi’s tweet, leaders of SAARC including Bangladesh gave reply supporting the Indian premier’s proposal towards collective efforts against the coronavirus outbreak that had spread over 121 countries and territories infecting over 134,300 people.
Pakistan announced shortly after midnight on Friday that Zafar Mirza, the special adviser on health to Prime Minister Imran Khan, would join the video conference.
Citing the sources who preferred not to be named, the Hindustan Times reported that the decision of video conferencing among the SAARC leaders was conveyed to India through diplomatic channels.
They told the newspaper that the video conference is expected to be held by Sunday afternoon. Logistics for the exercise and the agenda for discussions were being finalized, they added.
“This exercise shouldn’t be seen as a revival of SAARC. This is a measure aimed at bringing together regional countries to tackle a common challenge,” the paper quoted sources as saying.
The people noted that Pakistan’s decision to field only an adviser to the prime minister reflected its reluctance to engage at the highest level with India, it reported.
The heads of government of the other six SAARC members are expected to join the video conference, the report said.
