Saarc experts discuss anti-terror mechanism
A two-day meeting of the experts from Saarc countries began here yesterday to discuss ways of strengthening the anti-terror mechanism.
However, Bangladesh and Pakistan did not attend the meeting despite getting invitations, according to official sources.
Representatives of Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan participated in the meeting where India was represented by Intelligence Bureau Chief Nehchal Sandhu.
During the meeting, issues of improving the functioning of the Colombo-based Saarc Terrorist Offences Monitoring Desk (STOMD) and Saarc Drug Offences Monitoring Desk (SDOMD) were discussed, an official statement said.
The participants also reviewed enabling legislation enacted by the member countries on Saarc Regional Convention on Suppression of Terrorism and its Additional Protocol as well as the Saarc Convention on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances.
The meeting considered the Saarc convention on mutual assistance in criminal affairs as well.
Exchange of information among member countries for better coordination to counter terrorism and drug-related activities, developing cooperation, capacity and relationship building among Saarc police authorities were identified, among other matters, as possible methods of strengthening the Saarc anti-terrorism mechanism, the statement said.
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