'South Asia suffering due to tension between India and Pakistan'

New Delhi, Feb 12 (IANS) The economic progress in South Asia has suffered due to bilateral tensions between India and Pakistan, Pakistani High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit said Thursday.

"Because of the Pakistan-India problems in this region, we have not been able to put South Asia on the trajectory of economic well being, interdependence as well as integration," he said at a gathering of school students from the two countries here.

"How unfortunate it is regions around the world promote economic cooperation and work together to address global challenges like terrorism, climate change, but here we don't see much intellectual activity as compared to the European Union," he added.

As many as 50 delegates, including 30 school students from Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi and Islamabad are here on an exchange programme that seeks to strengthen relations, spread peace and friendship between the two nations.

"The interaction between the youth of the two countries is so important and essential to build bridges. These interaction will also help to dispel stereotypes," Basit told IANS.

Indian students from Dev Samaj Modern School and DPS Sushantlok here also participated in the "Students Exchange for Change 2013-2015", organised by two NGOs - India-based Routes2Roots in collaboration with The Citizens Archive of Pakistan.

The gathering showcased greetings, letters, collages and videos that school children on either side of the border exchanged with one another during the initiative that spanned over 12 months.

While pinning hope on the youth of the two countries to normalize strained relations, Basit said: "You guys (the youth) have to take the initiative in promoting a positive path towards normalization of relationship between the two countries.

"My generation has failed to build bridges between the two countries, but we are confident that your generation would not fail. Because you have the capacity to transcend subjectivity," he added.