KATHMANDU: Experts from South Asian countries have urged the government of Nepal to take initiatives to resolve current problems with regards to the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) immediately.

Nepal is currently the chair of the regional body SAARC which was founded in 1985. During a two-day regional conference on the effectiveness of the SAARC, the experts from South Asian countries agreed that there is no alternative to a more active and vibrant SAARC dedicated to the principle of effective cooperation in the South Asia region.

"The country chairing the SAARC has special responsibility of having closer interactions with all SAARC member states to avoid any crisis and prevent misunderstanding. Nepal as the current chair should immediately taken the initiative in resolving problems through bilateral consultations and collective discussions with a view to saving SAARC from prevailing crisis," stated a press release.

Saying that the process of dialogue should continue in future to promote congenial atmosphere in the Asian Region, the experts focused on the ways and means on enhancing mutual trust and understanding among SAARC countries.

Delivering closing remarks, Nepali Former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, who is also the member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Parliament, expressed hope that Nepal both as the chair and the host of the headquarters of the SAARC will take the initiative in the most urgent manner.

"The next SAARC Summit should be held without any unnecessary delay. While the Islamabad Summit is deferred for now, with understanding of all SAARC member states, we can even broach the idea of finding an alternative venue for holding the next summit at the earliest possible date," the former prime minister said.

Experts from India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan assembled in Nepal's capital for the conference at a time when the holding of the upcoming 19th SAARC Summit in Pakistan has become uncertain as the SAARC member states India, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan expressed their inability to participate in the Summit.