SAARC nations pledge coordinated action against terrorism

Rezaul H Laskar and Ajay Kaul
Islamabad, Jun 26 (PTI) Members of SAARC on Saturday
pledged to step up coordinated action against the common
menace of terrorism, including steps to apprehend or extradite
persons connected with acts of terrorism and facilitate
real-time intelligence sharing.
The meeting of the Interior Ministers of the South
Asian Association for Regional Cooperation also resolved to
step up cooperation in real time intelligence-sharing and to
consider Pakistan's proposal for creation of SAARCPOL, an
institution on the lines of Interpol.
The ministerial statement on cooperation against
terrorism adopted at the meeting said the SAARC member states
had underscored their "commitment to apprehend and prosecute
or extradite persons connected, directly or indirectly, with
the commissions of acts of terrorism".
They also reiterated their commitment to strengthen
SAARC's regime against terrorism.
While pledging to strengthen cooperation to fight and
eradicate terrorism in all forms, the Interior Ministers
emphasised the importance of a coordinated and concerted
response to the menace.
The ministers, including Indian Home Minister P
Chidambaram, pledged to implement measures against the
"organisation, instigation, financing and facilitation" of
terrorist activities.
They also said administrative and legal measures to
ensure that the territories of the SAARC states are "not used
for terrorist installations or training camps or for the
preparation or organisation of terrorist acts intended to be
committed against other states or their citizens".
The ministers resolved to ensure that "nationals and
entities" of SAARC states who commit, facilitate or
participate in commission of terror acts are "appropriately
punished".
The SAARC members -- Afghanistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh,
India, Pakistan, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka, also
acknowledged that linkages between terrorism, illegal
trafficking of drugs, human trafficking, smuggling of firearms
and threats to maritime security remained a "serious concern"
and said these problems would be addressed in a comprehensive
manner.
Briefing reporters at the conclusion of the meeting,
Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik said the existing Sri
Lanka-based SAARC Terrorism Offences Monitoring Desk would be
strengthened to facilitate real time sharing of intelligence.
The SAARC states will work out modalities to
strengthen networking to share information on terrorist groups
and individuals. (MORE) PTI RHL
RBT


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