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DHAKA, Monday (AFP)

Bangladesh's Prime Minister Khaleda Zia said Monday she saw a greater need for two-way talks among South Asian countries to promote peace and stability in the region.

"I want bilateral talks to play a more dominant role besides the formal ones as without peace there cannot be stability in South Asia," she said at a press conference a day after returning home from the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit in Nepal.

But the summit on Saturday and Sunday in Kathmandu was overshadowed by military and diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan and speculation on whether their leaders would meet or hold talks.

"We feel bilateral talks and hand shakes between Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee will help ease tension between the two neighbours," Zia said.

Realising the need for two-way talks, SAARC leaders have considered increasing the time for retreats during summits, she said.

By convention, bilateral issues are not discussed during SAARC summits, but at the weekend Musharraf and Vajpayee shook hands and talked for around 15 minutes after the summit ended. 

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