The Indian proposal for running a trial train from Pakistan to Bangladesh via India and Nepal was welcomed by the SAARC member states at the meeting of their Transport Ministers in Sri Lankan capital -- Colombo- yesterday.
The ministers agreed that the objective of providing connectivity is not just about upgrading transport links, but to unite the hearts and minds of the people of South Asia, officials said.
India and Bangladesh had resumed their rail service last year after a gap of 43 years, with the run of Moitree Express from Dhaka to Kolkata.
A war in 1965 between India and Pakistan, of which Bangladesh was a part until 1971, stopped the cross-border passenger train service which covers a distance of 538 kms, with 418 kms in Bangladesh and 120 kms in India.
Train links between India and Pakistan have also been operational.
The Indian delegation at the meeting was headed by R P N Singh, Minister of State for Road, Transport and Railways.
The second meeting of the SAARC Ministers of Transport yesterday was preceded by the third meeting of SAARC Inter- Governmental Group on Transport on Friday.
Sri Lanka, being the present Chair of SAARC, presided over the meeting, which reviewed progress in implementation of decisions of the first meeting of SAARC Transport Ministers held in August last year.
Minister Singh said India was conscious of its "asymmetrical" responsibility in the SAARC and had played a lead role in negotiations through offers of training programmes, among other things.
New Delhi also furnished status on upgradation of corridors identified within India and proposed new programmes for strengthening intra-regional connectivity.
The ministers agreed that the objective of providing connectivity is not just about upgrading transport links, but to unite the hearts and minds of the people of South Asia, officials said.
India and Bangladesh had resumed their rail service last year after a gap of 43 years, with the run of Moitree Express from Dhaka to Kolkata.
A war in 1965 between India and Pakistan, of which Bangladesh was a part until 1971, stopped the cross-border passenger train service which covers a distance of 538 kms, with 418 kms in Bangladesh and 120 kms in India.
Train links between India and Pakistan have also been operational.
The Indian delegation at the meeting was headed by R P N Singh, Minister of State for Road, Transport and Railways.
The second meeting of the SAARC Ministers of Transport yesterday was preceded by the third meeting of SAARC Inter- Governmental Group on Transport on Friday.
Sri Lanka, being the present Chair of SAARC, presided over the meeting, which reviewed progress in implementation of decisions of the first meeting of SAARC Transport Ministers held in August last year.
Minister Singh said India was conscious of its "asymmetrical" responsibility in the SAARC and had played a lead role in negotiations through offers of training programmes, among other things.
New Delhi also furnished status on upgradation of corridors identified within India and proposed new programmes for strengthening intra-regional connectivity.
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