Meet ends with anti-terror resolve

Recognising terrorism a “serious threat” to South Asia’s peace and stability, the 15th SAARC Summit on Sunday in...

Recognising terrorism a “serious threat” to South Asia’s peace and stability, the 15th SAARC Summit on Sunday in a declaration supported “strongest possible cooperation” against the menace and signed a key agreement in this regard.

Wrapping up the two-day meet, which had Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and leaders of other seven member states, the association vowed to collaborate in tackling issues like energy by developing the regional hydro potential, grid connectivity and gas pipelines, as well as food security, climate change and trade barriers as part of an endeavour to prosper as a collective unit.

The Summit, which took place in the backdrop of attack on Indian Embassy in Kabul and serial blasts in Bangalore and Ahmedabad, was dominated by the theme of terrorism, with leaders of all member countries recognising it as a destabilising factor which had to be guarded against.

The meet saw firming up the SAARC Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters after tough negotiations in the wake of Pakistan’s resistance to the extradition clause. The Convention will provide a legal framework for greater cooperation among security forces of member countries to track, arrest and handover criminals and terrorists on request from any member country.