South Asian countries have been pushed many times by external powers to set aside their political grudges and strive for peace and prosperity in the region. [...] But rarely have external powers been motivated to try initiating people-to-people contact as an alternative path to regional unity and connectivity. People-to-people contact or “public diplomacy” remains the unfulfilled agenda of SAARC.

A former Ambassador to the United States, Dr. Singh, who held various portfolios as a Union Minister, said while India expands her presence globally through political and economic engagements, it also needs to focus on forging relations through cultural diplomacy.

Fourteen music bands from the SAARC countries and observatory country France will perform in the national capital Friday, in the eighth edition of the South Asian Bands Festival.