Saarc countries must work jointly for regional stability: FM

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali on Thursday urged the Saarc member states to focus on more realistic, result-oriented and mutually beneficial partnership for transforming the region into a development powerhouse through joint efforts.

"We must work together in an atmosphere of friendship, peace and stability to continue to remain a secure, stable and prosperous region," he said while  addressing the 37th session of the Saarc Council of Ministers (COM) held in Pokhara, Nepal.

The foreign minister also emphasised important areas of cooperation including connectivity, trade and investment, energy, agriculture, terrorism and violent extremism, and blue economy, according to a foreign ministry statement.

The meeting of Saarc COM was preceded by the 42nd session of the Saarc standing committee and the 52nd session of the Saarc programming committee, as part of the Saarc inter-summit sessions.

Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque led the Bangladesh delegation at the standing committee. COM also recommended that future Saarc summits be held every alternate November, in accordance of which the next one will be held in Islamabad this year, from November 9-10.

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan and Afghanistan on the sidelines of the Inter-Summit Sessions.