Kathmandu, June 19: Consultations have started lately to prepare the groundwork for the 11th regional summit, in limbo since October last year, officials said.

Technical committees have been meeting of late, said Nihal Rodrigo, the General Secretary of the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC) here today.

However, he declined to give any date for the summit that remains suspended since late last year. The summit, slated to be held here in November last year, was postponed as India asked for the deferment of the meet citing the October-12 military take-over in Pakistan.

The Secretariat is unsure about the date of 11th summit. “I cannot give you the exact date of the summit,” Rodrigo said. “It will take place as soon as the relations between India and Pakistan are normalised.”

Rodrigo said that the co-operation programmes in the economic and social sectors were in progress despite the postponement of the summit.

“SAARC has not been able to achieve as much as other regional associations, as it is much younger than them,” Rodrigo told a face to face programme organised by the Reporters’ Club. “Each summit, however, has contributed to the progress of the region.”

Citing the progress on South Asian Free Trade Area, Rodrigo said that works were underway for economic integration of the region. “Besides, the member countries are interacting regarding the terms and conditions of the World Trade Organisation and accession to it.”

Rodrigo said the Association had been successful to bring the private sector form the member countries to push ahead the economic activities together. He also mentioned of the sub-regional co-operation programmes launched as per the provision of the SAARC Charter.

Rodrigo said that the Association was significant politically too although no political issues are discussed during the summits. “The leaders meet and discuss the bilateral issues outside the summit which helps enhance relations between them.”

“We are young but we are moving ahead slowly,” Rodrigo said. “I am confident that the Association will be able to bring all the members together and enhance regional co-operation.”

Established in 1985, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are the members of the regional body.