SAARC leaders vow to fight terror unitedly

PM made it clear that there should be "zero tolerance" towards terrorism. Pics

Updated on: Nov 13, 2005, 24:11:00 IST

None | By Anonymous, Dhaka

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Delayed twice on account of tsunami and Nepal crisis, the SAARC Summit opened today favouring a united fight against terrorism afflicting the region with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh making it clear that there should be "zero tolerance" towards the menace.

"No member country should allow its territory to be used against interests of the other member country," he said at his speech at the inaugural session of the two-day meet where Pakistan shed its usual belligerence at the Kashmir issue and instead chose to give a positive projection reflecting the current thaw in Indo-Pak relations.

The opening saw India offer a slew of concrete proposals to strengthen SAARC, including the facility of daily air services by designated airlines on reciprocal basis, provision of transit facilities, setting up of a South Asian University and establishment of Regional Food Bank, SAARC High Economic Council and SAARC Museum of Textiles and Handicrafts.

Singh and leaders of host Bangladesh along with Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives echoed similar views as they talked about the need to re-energise the SAARC, which has turned 20 this year, and stressed on enhancement of cross-regional linkages in all areas, particularly trade, commerce and free movement of people.

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