Male (Maldives): In a veiled attack on Pakistan, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on September 23 asserted that "some irrational political motivations" were hindering efforts for closer economic integration within South Asian Association of Regional Co-operation (SAARC) and called for "partnership" among Democratic societies in the global war against terrorism.

Vajpayee, who held wide-ranging discussions with Maldivian President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, said India was willing to extend unilaterally the maximum possible economic and trade concessions to the least developed countries within SAARC. "We cannot let growth and development remain hostage to petty political jealousies."

At a luncheon hosted in his honour by Gayoom, Vajpayee said, "some irrational political motivations are hindering our efforts for closer economic integration within SAARC".

Later, at a civic reception, the Prime Minister said, "our region has suffered from the ravages of terrorism for decades" and stressed that it was a global war calling for "partnership among democratic societies, which are most threatened by the bigoted ideologies that drive terrorism".

PTI