India calls for SAARC Convention Against Terrorism

India on Thursday called upon the rest of the Member States of SAARC to finalise a regional convention, at the grouping’s annual summit next month, as part of efforts to combat international terrorism.

“South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) governments have a collective responsibility to ensure that growth and development within the region take place in a crime-free atmosphere where people feel secure,” India’s External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said in his address at a Regional Conference on Deepening South Asian Economic Integration.

“The recent bomb blasts in Kabul that targeted our embassy emphasises how vulnerable South Asia continues to be on terrorism,” Mukherjee stressed.

On July 7 a major suicide attack on Indian Embassy at Kabul killed 54 people including Indian diplomats and security personnel.

“We have initiated discussions on a draft Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters. This will enable us to implement actions against such crimes in the neighbourhood with regional cooperation. I am confident that discussions on it will be finalised at the forthcoming SAARC Summit,” the Minister noted.

SAARC comprises India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Maldives.

The 15th SAARC summit will be held in Colombo on August 2-3. India hosted the 14th summit last year.