Dhaka, November 12
Delayed twice on account of the tsunami and Nepal crisis, the SAARC Summit opened today, favouring a united fight against terrorism afflicting the region with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh making it clear that there should be “zero tolerance” towards the menace.

“No member country should allow its territory to be used against interests of the other member-country,” he said in his speech at the inaugural session of the two-day meeting where Pakistan shed its usual belligerence on the Kashmir issue and instead chose to give a positive projection, reflecting the current thaw in Indo-Pak relations.

The opening saw India offer a slew of concrete proposals to strengthen SAARC, including the facility of daily air services by designated airlines on a reciprocal basis, provision of transit facilities, setting up of a South Asian University and establishment of Regional Food Bank, SAARC High Economic Council and SAARC Museum of Textiles and Handicrafts.

Dr Manmohan Singh and leaders of the host, Bangladesh, along with Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives echoed similar views as they talked about the need to re-energise SAARC, which turned 20 this year, and stressed on enhancement of cross-regional linkages in all areas, particularly trade, commerce and free movement of people.

Leaders of all seven-member countries pointed to the recent natural calamities — tsunami and earthquake — and stressed on the need for a joint mechanism to deal with such occurrences in future.