Take steps to restart SAARC, pursue peace: Dr Farooq

New Delhi, Aug 21: National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah has called for the revival of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to pursue peace with Pakistan and help India advance on the global stage.

Dr Farooq, who was speaking on Wednesday at the launch of journalist Shahid Siddiqui’s memoir “I, Witness: India from Nehru to Narendra Modi”, cited the example of recent meeting between Russia president Vladimir Putin and US president Donald Trump, followed by the latter’s subsequent meeting of the European leaders and Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

“Time has come when even our Prime Minister has to take such steps that India can walk with the world for peace… Time has come to restart SAARC. We must take strong steps from our side and find the path to peace — for the peace of the whole world. The world has become very small, and if we cannot keep this small world with love, then this world will leave us,” said the former Chief Minister.

Established in 1985, SAARC is a regional intergovernmental organisation and geopolitical union of South Asian countries, including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives, Bhutan, and Afghanistan.

Though admitting that none of it would be easy, Dr Farooq emphasised that only “hard steps can save our nation and shape the world”. He added that he would pray to the almighty for the current government to take up this responsibility.