India hopes that the SAARC summit in Kathmandu next month would set a deadline to Pakistan and Bangladesh to enact domestic laws against terrorism. In the seven-member regional grouping, only Pakistan and Bangladesh have not abided their commitment to implement such laws.
New Delhi feels the Kathmandu summit should not simply be used as an occasion to reiterate earlier positions and that there was need to go beyond this.
Terrorism will be a major focus at the three-day summit commencing on January four, an external affairs ministry spokesperson told reporters.
Poverty alleviation and economic integration were other issues that would be discussed at length at the summit. Asked whether there was still a possibility of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee meeting Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf in Kathmandu, the spokesperson said she has no information on this.
India has firmly ruled out the possibility of Vajpayee having a summit meeting with Musharraf under the prevailing circumstances. New Delhi has accused Islamabad of not taking action against Pakistan-based terrorist outfits Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad responsible for the terror attack on Parliament.
A draft declaration being discussed by SAARC countries include commitment to regional cooperation, cooperation in economic and social sectors besides touching on international economic and political environment.
Bureau Report