New Delhi: Sri Lanka today (Dec 7, 2004) said SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation), handicapped by the baggage of history and shackled by political constraints, would move fast if India and Pakistan reached an accommodation at least on economic matters.

"Relations between India and Pakistan are the yardstick by which the progress of SAARC is measured," Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar said while addressing the India Economic Summit in New Delhi.

"If only these two countries could at least reach an accommodation on economic matters, if not a total resolution of their political problems, the benefits for the region would be immeasurable. SAARC would move fast," he said.

Underpinning the importance of political will of SAARC countries to formulate a vision for the grouping, he said, "Without a vision, the journey to 2020 will be a meandering stroll through time, lacking in purpose, unfocussed and without direction."

SAARC's journey so far had been "fitful and hesitant", he said observing that even the most pessimistic observers of the South Asian scene agreed that this region has untold wealth in human and natural resources.

Outlining his nine-point vision for SAARC, Kadirgamar said the grouping must collectively ensure that conditions were created for the countries to undertake gainful trade and expand investment.

"We have to agree on the specifics of a comprehensive multi-sectoral agenda in areas like trade, investment and infrastructure development," he stressed.