Time is not on South Asian nations' side

SINCE its inception in 1985, the effectiveness of the South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) - comprising Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka - to promote economic integration in South Asia has been questioned. One of the biggest impediments to SAARC's progress has been the continued tension between nuclear-powered India and Pakistan.

This time around, because of repeated announcements by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi of the need to reinvigorate relations with neighbouring countries, there was hope that some positive results would come out of the 18th SAARC Summit held in Kathmandu on Nov 26-27, 2014.

Mr Modi's first day in office after his election in May was dedicated exclusively to bilateral meetings with the leaders of the SAARC countries. His first state visit was to Bhutan and then to Nepal. During his visits abroad and even when engaging domestic audiences, Mr Modi had stressed the need for increased…