Srinagar, Aug 21: Director General, Indian Council of World Affairs, Sudhir Devera has said that India was open to “multilateralism” with its South and Central Asian neighbourhs.
 Delivering a lecture in the Centre of Central Asian Studies, University of Kashmir on “India’s Trade Initiatives in South and Central Asia” here, Devera presented a fascinating view of India in the regional context.
 “Notwithstanding multiple challenges and bottlenecks there is  optimism in India’s growing relations with China, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and other countries of South Asia, as all of them are governed by the factor of economic interdependence and have had close historical and cultural relations.”
 However, he hoped that all the bordering states of the region shall have to resolve long standing issues through mutual understanding and dialogue, for which restoring traditional trans-surface links of India with China and Pakistan in particular was a must. Trade, he said, could prove as a useful instrument for the purpose.
 “Such arrangements can facilitate the effective cooperation among the otherwise unfriendly neighbours and boost their trade volume in the foreseeable future. It would also open up vistas of India’s multifarious ties with Afghanistan, Russia, Iran and Central Asia.”
 At the end, the DG expressed the hope of academic cooperation between ICWA, New Delhi and CCAS, University of Kashmir.
 The lecture was presided over by Prof. M Ashraf Wani, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kashmir. Besides, faculty, scholars and students,  Prof. G. R. Jan, Director, CCAS, Prof. Mushtaq A. Kaw, Director, Area Study Programme, CCAS, Prof. N. A. Baba, Prof. Asifa Jan, Prof. B. A. Dabla and other were present on the occasion.  
 Dr. G. N. Khaki introduced the scholar to the audience.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 21 Aug 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 21 Aug 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 22 Aug 2011 00:00:00 IST