SAARC urges anti-terror acts

COLOMBO (Agencies) - -Eight South Asian countries adopted a regional anti-terrorism cooperation agreement on Sunday.

Leaders of the countries also approved the immediate establishment of a food bank to cope with regional shortages triggered by rising prices, as well as plans for improving energy security in the impoverished region, home to nearly one-fifth of the world’s population.

The anti-terrorism agreement calls for freezing funds that might be used for terrorist activities, regular meetings between security chiefs, the exchange of intelligence, and training of personnel dealing with terrorism and drug offenses.

The agreement may not be easy to implement in view of accusations by India and Afghanistan that elements of Pakistan’s intelligence service helped a militant group bomb India’s embassy in Afghanistan on July 7, killing 41 people. The allegation cast a shadow over the two-day summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, or SAARC.

The foreign ministers of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka signed the anti-terrorism agreement, as well as endorsing the creation of a regional development fund and rules for standardisation of products traded among the countries.

SAARC agreed to focus on developing hydropower and renewable energy programmes involving solar equipment and wind turbines.