It is cheap imitation of the old British India Raj policy. After partition of British India in 1947, the independent states are not clicking together--look at the limping Saarc. The 'Neighbour-factor' is poor amongst the Saarc members. Why? Note the basic parameters of Partition: and how far friendly relations have evolved in South Asia during the three decades of experiments [the first phase of settling down]. What the new and young generations are thinking of our pioneers?

India and Pakistan are still obsessed with the Kashmir issue: the civil unrest in Sri Lanka: The recent revolution in Nepal; the political instability in Bangladesh: the recurrent changes in Pakistan: the Pak-Afghan relationship.

In one word, the human touch is missing. Why? Not for religion, as a debating issue. The political policies need grounding. The people of these independent nations hardly meet [or can meet] -- direct contact at the mass level is not possible. Some one billion people had a common Raj base. Resettlement has psychological barriers. Analyse the political efforts for three decades. Saarc is a stillborn baby. Regional politics is suffering from greenhouse effect!

The Western powers, for survival with continued high standard of living, are seeking transit and exchange conditions in this region similar to that prevailing during the Raj age. United regional cooperation cannot come without friendly environment amongst the neighbours. The internal trade within the Saarc region is to the extent of only three per cent---97 per cent of Saarc commodities are exported outside the region. It speaks volumes for the state of affairs. The West would be in trouble if 97 could be reduced to 50 per cent!

How to change the mindset? The situation has become more complicated and sensitive with the entry of religion in politics - fanatical terrorism is echoing round the world. The Global Village has not reduced the cultural gaps - the social factors comes later. Our regional politics is claimed to be democratic: but the insulated layers at the vertical and horizontal levels have to be removed. How? Ask the political regimes.

Religion is not a new entity-it is older than political governance. Why the religious clerics are in revolt; and that too violently? The equations between the head and the heart (logic, faith and emotion] have to be made compatible. The two-way communication media are missing or are weak. This needs leadership of the highest order. In the third world countries, it is difficult to concentrate on a single issue, because there are too many compelling distractions, day in and day out, trying to make the daily lives of the masses tolerable and bearable [low GDP and standard of living]. Here politics as a lucrative source of business-corruption is easy to explain.

The next moves would come from which stellar source?