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The United States support SAARC

US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher has said the United States sees great promise in working together in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) for which they sought observer status. Boucher, who is the Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asia, said the South Asian Free Trade (SAFTA) is an opportunity for all the countries of the region to help make free trade here a reality, and to establish links to Central Asian economic organizations.

"We see great promise in working together in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. We recently approached SAARC Secretary General requesting observer status," Boucher reportedly said in a lecture at the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) in New Delhi on Friday. He also said that he sees numerous opportunities for links that can bring power, roads, communications and trade all the way from Kazakhstan to Pakistan and India.

According to reports, Boucher told the meeting that the United States would welcome India`s participation in endeavors that reinforce Afghanistan`s newfound status as an open corridor, rather than a barrier that separates South Asia from Central Asia.