South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) nations have suggested formulating a common strategy to fight terrorism and drug smuggling in the region, with Sri Lanka pushing for the creation of a Saarc police body to investigate cross-border crimes in the region.
A technical committee of Saarc nations, which met here ahead of the third three-day meeting of Saarc home ministers starting on Thursday, recommended the exchange of lists of terrorist organisations and persons and benefiting from each other’s experiences in the battle against extremism.
The panel also suggested intra-Saarc cooperation in enhancing efficiency of law-enforcement agencies, including police, and working towards restricting drug smuggling.
Secretaries and focal persons of the home departments of Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Bhutan, Nepal and Afghanistan participated in the meeting.
The panel reviewed the agenda for the Saarc interior ministers’ conference and interior secretaries’ meeting and exchanged views on important points, including anti-terrorism, a mechanism for exchange of information, curbing human smuggling, as well as visa issues.
Sri Lanka proposed the establishing of a Saarc police force to investigate international crimes in the region, to control terrorism and to arrest wanted persons within the boundaries of the seven-nation grouping.
India suggested that the border control management of Saarc countries be improved to curb smuggling of drugs and that the scope of exchange of information be enlarged so that it could be used effectively to end terrorism.
The Saarc nations should exchange lists of and information about terrorist, extremist and criminal organisations and their prominent members.
Pakistan updated the panel on its achievements against terrorism in Swat, Malakand, as well as South Wazirstan and other tribal areas. The participants praised the achievements of the Pakistan Army in its war against terrorism.
Afghanistan also briefed the meeting about ongoing efforts against terrorist organisations on its territory.
The meeting is expected to continue on Thursday. Interior secretaries are due to meet on Friday while the interior ministers’ conference will take place on Saturday.
Strict security arrangements have been put in place in the capital for these meetings.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 24th, 2010.
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