SAARC summit approves 27 anti-terror points

The Interior Ministers' meeting of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is being held in Islamabad on Saturday (today) to discuss and adopt a joint strategy to eliminate terrorism. A joint declaration has been finalized in the conference, carrying 27 ratified points to eliminate terrorism. Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik is presiding over the meeting. During the meeting, Rehman said that terrorism has affected Pakistan the most, while Chidmbaram assured of all-out support against terror. Interior secretaries of the SAARC countries have agreed on a 15-point agenda besides bolstering cooperation against terror and recommending the establishment of a networking system between the police chiefs of the member countries. The secretaries held detailed consultations on a range of issues, including the anti-terrorism campaign, modification in immigration laws, prevention of drug and human trafficking, relaxation in visa laws, maritime security and other matters of mutual interest. The meeting also recommended that SAARC member countries further improve their border security management system. Pakistan Interior Secretary Qamar Zaman Chaudhry, while talking to media at the end of secretaries level talks, said that countering terrorism, drug and human trafficking remained focus of the talks. He said the meeting was significant because it was held after a gap of two and half years.Senior analyst Lt (r) Talat Masood, while talking to Dunya News, termed Chidambarams statement as a positive sign. He said that Indias cooperation with Pakistan against terrorism would benefit the whole region. He maintained that the development showed that the general perception has been changed.