Visa within Saarc countries

Over these 20 years or more of Saarc's existence, there have been numerous unanimous agreements and resolutions, but little has been achieved at the field level.

Let's hope that the 13th Saarc Summit recently held in Dhaka will be a watershed in the era of implementation, that is, an accountable implementation of the aforesaid words "regional cooperation". The civil society is the hardest hit as all their hopes & aspirations invariably dashed to smithereens, after the wrap-up of each and every Saarc Summit.

Especially, this has become a fact of life after every issuance of the "Text of Saarc Summit Declaration" when they approach the Saarc High Commissions for Visa with sky high hopes and optimism & ultimately realise that it was a "Pie in the sky pipe dreams".

The print media is replete with instances of such complaints and condemnations by those who returned from the High Commissions empty handed, having approached with high hopes to meet their near and dear ones, especially in India and Pakistan.