Former Pakistan premier Gilani meets Nepal PM Oli; discusses regional issues

Former Pakistan premier Yusuf Raza Gilani on Sunday called on Nepal's Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli during which they discussed the peace process of the Himalayan nation and regional issues including SAARC, a senior Nepalese official said.

During the meeting, the Nepal's Prime Minister underscored the need to make SAARC effective, Oli's press coordinator Chetan Adhikari said. 

The former Pakistan premier is currently in Kathmandu to attend the Asia Pacific Summit 2018.

"Nepal wants to handover the SAARC leadership by holding the conference as soon as possible, PM Oli said while reiterating his commitment over the regional body. We will always try to make SAARC effective," Oli said.

SAARC is a regional body founded in 1985, comprising Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

The 19th SAARC Summit, which was to be held in Islamabad in 2016, was cancelled after India decided not to attend it following a terror attack on an Indian Army base in Uri in September in which 18 soldiers were killed.

The summit is automatically postponed or cancelled even if one member country skips the event. 

Besides India, three other SAARC members - Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan - have pulled out of the summit, indirectly blaming Pakistan for "creating an environment which is not right for the successful holding" of the meet.

Gilani also praised Nepal for its effort in bringing stability in the country.