By Grant McCool

ISLAMABAD, Reuter: A meeting between two of the world’s youngest leaders is expected to overshadow events at a South Asian summit meeting in the Pakistani capital next week.

‘Two kings, two presidents, two Prime Ministers and a President elect will attend the fourth summit of the South Asian Association for regional cooperation (SAARC) from December 29-31 after a year of disasters, violence and dramatic political change.

Thousands were killed in Bangladesh in floods and a cyclone, leftwing guerrillas disrupted Sri Lankas elections, and mercenaries tried to oust the Maldivian government.

In Pakistan military ruler Mohammad Zia-Ul-Haq was killed in a mysterious plane crash, paving the ‘way for Benazir Bhutto to become the first woman elected leader of a ‘Moslem state.

But the encounter between Bhutto, 35, and Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, 44, is expected to attract most attention, according to political analysts in Islamabad.

Pakistan Foreign Ministry Secretary Humayun Khan told reporters both leaders who are to have Separate talks after the Summit, would want an over-all improvement of relations between their countries which have fought three wars since Independence from British rule in 1947.

“We are looking for a fresh impetus to relations,” Khan said.

Gandhi and Bhutto, both the children of former Prime Ministers, have also said they expect their meeting to lead to a rapprochement between the two traditional adversaries.

Indian officials however are also hoping for progress on the issues of terrorism, security, flood control and trade from the SAARC meeting.

“We can live without SAARC and they all know that,” said an official in New Delhi. “We have to be very careful about how we go about things.”

SAARC groups Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

India’s image as the group’s big brother was reinforced last October when it sent troops to the Maldives to stop Sri Lankan Mercenaries attempting to overthrow the government of President Maumoon Abdul Gayoon.

Last year, India sent 50,000 troops to Sri Lanka to enforce an accord it signed with Colombo aimed at ending a rebellion by Tamil Separatists.

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranasighe Premadasa, elected President this week in a poll marred by violence, has yet to announce if he will attend the conference, an Official said Colombo was expected to support a proposal for loser regional economic cooperation.

In past years, SAARC has promoted cooperation on a range of topics, including drug trafficking, women in development, science and technology and Agricultural research.

Pakistan Foreign Ministry Officials said other subjects to be discussed would be the causes and consequences of natural disasters and protection of the environment and children.

The group’s charter excludes the discussion of contentious issues between countries, but apart from informal meetings to take place between Bhutto and Gandhi, officials acknowledge other contracts among leaders.

Bangladesh Foreign Minister Anisul Islam Mahmud said: “I think the political dialogue at the highest level beyond the mandate of SAARC is going to be SAARC’s biggest achievement.”

He said Bangladesh would make a move for a regional approach to fighting cyclones and floods. Thousands were killed or made homeless by floods in the country this year.

The group’s members are sticking to the rules over the bid for membership by the Soviet backed Government in Afghanistan. Officials say new members can be admitted only on the basis of unanimity at Summit level. Moslem Pakistan and Bangladesh are ‘opposed to Kabul’s membership.

One official said the group would review progress on the two Vital projects launched by last year’s meeting in Kathmandu — food security and the anti-terrorist campaign.

“We must try to prove that SAARC … means business,” he said.

Article extracted from this publication >> December 30, 1988