According to Indian media, India’s Power, New and Renewable Energy Minister Piyush Goel floated the idea at the 5th SAARC power ministers’ meeting in New Delhi on Friday. He said hydroelectric power generated in North East India could be transmitted to Afghanistan via Bangladesh, India and Pakistan
A plan to construct an ultra high voltage underwater HVDC line all the way to Sri Lanka is also in the pipeline.

“Rivers can flow only in one direction, but power can flow in the direction of our choice. I dream of a seamless SAARC power grid within the next few years and this will not only strengthen the economic ties among the SAARC nations but also deepens the people to people relationship,” the minister said.