▁to ▁the ▁leaders ▁of ▁the ▁countries ▁of ▁the ▁South ▁Asia , ▁present ing ▁his ▁vision ▁for ▁the ▁future ▁of ▁the ▁region ▁and ▁the ▁comp elling ▁arguments ▁for ▁region . ▁During ▁his ▁visit ▁to ▁India ▁in ▁December ▁ 1 9 7 7 , ▁Rah man ▁discussed ▁the ▁issue ▁of ▁regional ▁co operation ▁with ▁the ▁Indian ▁Prime ▁Minister , ▁Mor ar ji ▁Des ai . ▁In ▁the ▁inaug ural ▁speech ▁to ▁the ▁Col om bo ▁Plan ▁Cons ult ative ▁Committee ▁which ▁met ▁in ▁Kath m and u ▁also ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 7 , ▁King ▁Bir endra ▁of ▁Nep al ▁gave ▁a ▁call ▁for ▁close ▁regional ▁co operation ▁among ▁South ▁Asian ▁countries ▁in ▁sharing ▁river ▁waters . ▁ ▁After ▁the ▁USS R ' s ▁inter vention ▁in ▁Afghan istan , ▁the ▁efforts ▁to ▁establish ▁the ▁union ▁was ▁acceler ated ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 9 ▁and ▁the ▁resulting ▁rapid ▁d eter ior ation ▁of ▁South ▁Asian ▁security ▁situation . ▁Res pond ing ▁to ▁Rah man ▁and ▁Bir endra ' s ▁convention , ▁the ▁officials ▁of ▁the ▁foreign ▁minist ries ▁of ▁the ▁seven ▁countries ▁met ▁for ▁the ▁first ▁time ▁in ▁Col om bo ▁in ▁April ▁ 1 9 8 1 . ▁The ▁Bang l ades hi ▁proposal ▁was ▁prompt ly ▁end ors ed ▁by ▁Nep al , ▁Sri ▁L anka , ▁Bh ut an , ▁and ▁the ▁M ald ives ▁but ▁India ▁and ▁Pakistan ▁were ▁s cept ical ▁initially . ▁The ▁Indian ▁concern ▁was ▁the ▁proposal ' s ▁reference ▁to ▁the ▁security ▁matters ▁in ▁South