The SAARC countries have decided to turn the heat on financing of terrorism, reaffirming their commitment to implement all international conventions relating to combating terrorism. At the 14th SAARC Summit, it was described as the least contentious ones in recent times. Delhi Summit saw the South Asian countries signing two crucial agreements on setting up SAARC Food Bank and South Asian University in India. “Our Summit has agreed to operationalise the SAARC Development Fund, establish the South Asian University, create a SAARC Food Bank and SAARC Arbitration Council,” said Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh making his concluding remarks.

External Affairs Minister, Pranab Mukherjee described the 14th SAARCH as the least contentious Summit. “SAARC is an idea whose time has come,” he said.
The Delhi Declaration, which included two paragraphs on tackling terrorism, adopted unanimously at the concluding session, in a way was indicative of the end of bickering among the member States on sensitive issues. India and Pakistan, for instance did not openly rake up the issue of Jammu and Kashmir, though such issues were discussed during bilateral meetings.

India and Bangladesh discussed the issue of existence of North East rebel camps, as well as early demarcation of the border. The possibility of restarting Akhoura and Agartala rail service was also explored. Exchange of enclaves on either sides in India and Bangladesh also figured in discussions between the Prime Minister and Chief Adviser, Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed.

The SAARC countries also tried to dispel the notion that the forum fell short on delivery. “The quality of our discussion in the Retreat this morning gives me confidence that we can soon bring the fruits of SAARC to our people. We have agreed to make tangible progress in the next six months on four issues which effect’s our people’s daily lives: water including flood control, energy, food and environment,” said Dr Singh.

“We will work with international agencies to develop and implement viable cross-border regional projects in these four sectors,” he added.

Meanwhile, under attack of the terrorists, many of the affected SAARC member countries indicated to tighten the screws on terrorism. “The head of States underlined that terrorism is a threat to peace and security in the region. They condemned the targeted killing of civilians and terrorist violence, in all its forms and manifestations, wherever and against whomsoever committed,” the Declaration said.
They reaffirmed their commitment to implement all international conventions relating to combating terrorism, to which SAARC Member States were respectively parties, as well as the SAARC Regional Convention on Suppression of Terrorism and the Additional Protocol to the SAARC Regional Convention dealing with the prevention and suppression of financing of terrorism.,” the resolution said.
The SAARC countries agreed to work on the modalities to implement the provisions of the existing SAARC Conventions to combat terrorism, narcotics and psychotropic substances, trafficking in women and children and other trans-national crimes. They expressed their commitment to take every possible measure to prevent and suppress, in particular, financing of terrorist acts by criminalizing the provision, acquisition and collection of funds for such acts, including through front organisations and also to counter illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs, trafficking in persons and illicit arms.
They reiterated the need for law enforcement authorities of Member States to enhance cooperation in the prevention, suppression and prosecution of offences under these Instruments.

The tough wordings were also the outcome of the shard hitting statements made by the Presidents of Sri Lanka and Afghanistan yesterday.
The countries welcomed the offer of Sri Lanka to hold a meeting of Legal Advisers to examine the idea of a draft convention, before the second meeting of SAARC Interior and Home Ministers, scheduled in October 2007 in India. They also directed them to ensure regular follow-up and implementation of the decisions taken.
They also called for early implementation of the recommendations contained in the Study in a phased manner. In this context, the Heads of State or Government directed the Inter-Governmental Group on Transport to identify and develop sub-regional and regional projects based on the prioritised recommendations of the SAARC Regional Multi-modal Transport Study (SRMTS) and to develop appropriate regional agreements.

The heads of the States further lauded the launching of 2007 as the ‘Year of Green South Asia’. They reiterated that collaboration in addressing the problem of arsenic contamination of ground water, desertification and melting of glaciers and assistance to affected peoples should be deepened. They expressed deep concern over global climate change and the consequent rise in sea level and its impact on the lives and livelihoods in the region. They agreed to commission a team of regional experts to identify collective actions in this regard, the declaration said

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