Pak PM calls for end to South Asian tensions

"Greater economic integration is inexplicably linked to the creation of requisite political climate of peace and stability," he told the opening of the 12th summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc).

"It is a stark reality that political differences and disputes have held back prospects of economic cooperation in South Asia."

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"We subscribe to the vision of global multi-dimensional cooperation in South Asia, but we must realize that that this vision can only be transformed into reality if we are able to overcome our differences and disputes and create a climate of mutual trust and confidence."

Saarc, founded in 1985, groups Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka and is home to 1.4 billion largely poor people.

Jamali made no direct mention of Pakistan's decades-old rival neighbour India, nor did he mention Kashmir, the disputed Himalayan region at the core of their 56-year old rivalry,

Tensions between the nuclear powers are blamed for holding back intra-Saarc cooperation and development.

Optimism is running high that thawing ties between India and Pakistan and a newly-struck agreement on establishing a South Asian free trade zone will set Saarc on a new path of progress during this summit.