Members talk tough on terror

The SAARC Summit agreed to adopt every possible measure to stop financing of terror acts and counter trafficking of narcotics and illicit arms. The eight-page declaration took note of India’s initiative for a SAARC convention on mutual assistance in criminal matters to effectively combat terrorism and organised crime. Sri Lanka will hold a meeting of legal advisers to examine the proposal before the next meeting of SAARC Home Ministers slated to be held at New Delhi in October. Terming the declaration “comprehensive and forward-looking,” Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said it gave SAARC a wider mandate to promote peace and development in the region, including through greater connectivity in trade, movement of people and through the flow of ideas. The document was adopted by the leaders from Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives, Bangladesh and Bhutan. The countries reaffirmed their commitment to implement all international conventions relating to combating terrorism, to which SAARC member countries were parties. The Summit also called for urgent conclusion of a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT).

‘Lanka, LTTE should exercise restraint’

NEW DELHI: India on Wednesday said it favoured continuing dialogue between Sri Lanka and the LTTE to bring peace in the island nation. “Military solution will not yield results,” External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said. New Delhi had already assured Colombo of all possible assistance which it had sought, Mukherjee told a press conference at the end of 14th SAARC summit here. When asked whether LTTE posed any threat to India, Mukherjee said threat perception of a country depended on various circumstances.