|
The
Association provides a platform for the peoples of South Asia to work
together in a spirit of friendship, trust and understanding.
It aims to promote the welfare of the peoples of South Asia and
to improve their quality of life through accelerated economic growth,
social progress and cultural development in the region.
Cooperation
in the SAARC is based on respect for the principles of sovereign
equality, territorial integrity, political independence, noninterference
in internal affairs of the Member States and mutual benefit.
Regional cooperation is seen as a complement to the bilateral and
multilateral relations of SAARC Member States.
Decisions are taken on the basis of unanimity.
Bilateral and contentious issues are excluded from the
deliberations of SAARC.
The SAARC Secretariat is based in Kathmandu.
It coordinates and monitors implementation of activities,
prepares for and services meetings, and serves as a channel of
communication between the Association and its Member States as well as
other regional organizations. The
Secretariat is headed by the Secretary General, who is appointed by the
Council of Ministers from Member Countries in alphabetical order for a
three-year term. Mr. Q.A.M.A. Rahim from Bangladesh is the current
Secretary General. The previous Secretaries General were from
Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The next
Secretary General is to be from Bhutan.
The availability of real time maritime intelligence from South and South East Asian countries has been a key factor in the Sri Lankan navy's recent stunning successes against the intrepid and innovative naval wing of the LTTE.
(Intelligence Key To Navy's Success: Source, Hindustan Times, Correspondent or Reporter, Oct 31, 2007)
Pakistan said Monday that it would go ahead with the multi-billion Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline project. (Pak Vows To Go Ahead With Iran Gas Pipeline F.P. Report, Frontier Post, Correspondent or Reporter, Oct 30, 2007)
Pakistan will join hands with India to combat extremism and work with other SAARC countries to develop a mechanism for exchanging information to curb terrorism and drug trafficking, interior minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao has said.
(Indo-Pak Strategy Soon, Tribune, Correspondent or Reporter, Oct 29, 2007)
There was solid basis for New Delhi's response to the blasts in Karachi. The two countries are in the process of evolving a mechanism for police cooperation against terrorism and it is in India's interest to make Benazir conform to the . . . . (India Should Not Be Cynical, Pioneer, Radha Kumar, Oct 27, 2007)
The SAARC members on Thursday decided to strengthen cooperation in combating terror and crime, with a meeting of home ministers, chaired by Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, agreeing to a bi-annual meeting of police chiefs. (Saarc Members Vow To Combat Terror, Indian Express, Correspondent or Reporter, Oct 26, 2007)
Saarc countries on Thursday decided to have regular exchange of information to combat terrorism and to work towards establishing a convention for mutual legal assistance in criminal matters.
(Saarc Nations Agree To Work Together To Combat Terror, Times of India, Correspondent or Reporter, Oct 26, 2007)
Viewing terrorism as a “serious threat” to South Asia’s peace and development, SAARC countries today decided to have regular exchange of information to combat the menace and push efforts for establishing a convention for mutual legal assistance. . . (Saarc Vows To Combat Terror, Hindu, Correspondent or Reporter, Oct 26, 2007)
Home Ministers of SAARC countries on Thursday said terrorism remained a serious threat to peace and development in the region and called upon the member-states to strengthen institutional mechanisms to fight it effectively.
(Terrorism A Serious Threat: Saarc, Hindu, Correspondent or Reporter, Oct 26, 2007)
Acknowledging that terrorism remains a serious threat to sustainable peace and development of South Asia, Saarc countries underlined the need to give an added push to evolving a treaty on mutual legal assistance with the home or interior ministers. . . (Saarc Nations For Evolving Treaty On Mutual Legal Aid , Tribune, A N Sudarsan Rao , Oct 26, 2007)
After the Karachi bloodbath on October 19 the global condemnation of the terrorists’ act and commiseration for Pakistan and Ms Benazir Bhutto was on the expected lines. (Cooperate To End Terrorism, Tribune, Gen V.P. Malik (retd), Oct 26, 2007)
Home Secretaries of SAARC countries on Wednesday resolved to move forward in the matter of mutual assistance to check terrorism and trans-border crimes and expressed the need for better cooperation among police organisations of member-countries.
(Saarc Ministers On Mutual Assistance To Check Terrorism, Pioneer, Correspondent or Reporter, Oct 25, 2007)
Agreeing to share information to check trans-border crimes, police chiefs from SAARC nations on Tuesday suggested a database that could help security agencies combat terrorism, narcotics smuggling and cyber crime. (Saarc Meet: New Database To Combat Terrorism, Indian Express, Correspondent or Reporter, Oct 24, 2007)
Member countries of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation on Tuesday proposed the creation of a database among them for a coordinated action against terrorism, drug trafficking, cyber crimes and financial frauds.
(S. Asian Terror Database Proposed , Dawn, Jawed Naqvi, Oct 24, 2007)
High-voltage talks are on this week to counter terrorism in the subcontinent, and it may just be coincidental that the move comes in the wake of explosions in Ajmer, Ludhiana and Karachi. (Edits, Statesman, Editorial, Statesman, Oct 24, 2007)
India and Pakistan today agreed to work together for identifying measures to beef up the anti-terror mechanism in the light of information shared earlier by the two on terrorist incidents and terror-related activities. (India, Pakistan Agree To Work On Anti-Terror Mechanism , Statesman, Correspondent or Reporter, Oct 23, 2007)
The second annual meeting of the SAARC home ministers will begin here tomorrow to hammer out a treaty on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, forming a regional police forum and evolving a comprehensive mechanism for tackling terror . . . . . . (Saarc Home Ministers’ Meeting Today , Tribune, Correspondent or Reporter, Oct 23, 2007)
India will host the second meeting of SAARC Interior/ Home Ministers from Tuesday preceded by second meeting of SAARC Home Secretaries and the sixth SAARC Cooperation on Police Matters. (India To Host Saarc Ministerial Meet, Pioneer, Correspondent or Reporter, Oct 23, 2007)
The Pakistani link to the recent terror strikes in Hyderabad, Ajmer and Ludhiana came to the fore on Monday as India sought Pakistan’s help in tracking down suspects who are believed to have cross-border links.
(At Anti-Terror Meet, India Seeks Pak’S Help In Tracking Bombers, Indian Express, Correspondent or Reporter, Oct 23, 2007)
India and Pakistan will hold the second meeting of the Joint Anti-Terrorism Mechanism (JATM) here on Monday, during which Islamabad is expected to raise the issue of Samjhauta Express blast inquiry report.
(Second Round Of Indo-Pak Jatm Talks On Monday , The Economic Times, Correspondent or Reporter, Oct 22, 2007)
With the British government more or less towing the American line on Iran albeit indirectly and the American pressure on India to clear its stand on the “errant” Iranian President, it looks like from SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional . . . . (India, Afghan And The Nam , Deccan Herald, Deepali Gaur Singh, Oct 10, 2007)
More SAARC stories
Home
Page
|
