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| SAARC accord: Extradition proposal opposed by Pak | | |
NEW DELHI, APR 2
Efforts by SAARC countries to put in place a regional Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) has run into rough weather with Pakistan opposing the extradition clause proposed by India.
Most members of the eight-nation grouping, including India and Sri Lanka, were keen to have such an arrangement to fight terror effectively.
"This is an issue which we have discussed with Pakistan and other neighbouring countries for years. Obviously we don't have identical views on it," Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon told reporters here today after the meeting of SAARC Council of Ministers ahead of the two-day summit commencing tomorrow.
The Pakistani side objected to the extradition clause on the ground that such an arrangement should be only at a bilateral level rather than at a multilateral level under a regional forum.
It was, however, made clear that Pakistan was not averse to having such a treaty for combating narcotics trafficking, money laundering and other trans-border crimes.
Menon said Sri Lanka has offered to host a meeting to look at the issues raised by the member countries. He said India has offered to circulate a draft of a possible regional mutual assistance treaty.
"Once we circulate the draft, then we will see how to work through our positions and see whether these can be reconciled or not. We have the means within SAARC to deal with the issue which we hope to use to move this forward," he said.
Sri Lanka, which raised the terror issue at preparatory meetings and would raise it at the Summit also, favoured MLAT.
Emphasising that no country could be immune to terrorism, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama voiced strong demand for collective fight against the scourge.
He said a mechanism at SAARC level to fight terrorism would be effective and advocated the need for individual countries putting in place domestic legislations in consonance with it as well.
Menon indicated that a strong message is expected to come out of the summit to collectively fight terrorism. "Everyone is opposed to terrorism".
The Foreign Ministers formally recommended to the Summit, Iran's application for observer status. China, Japan, South Korea, the US and the European Union are participating as observers.
With services sector becoming increasingly important for economies of the South Asian region, the foreign ministers proposed an agreement on trade in services among the member countries.
"The proposal is to look at both the options... To make it a part of SAFTA or negotiate a separate agreement in trade in services," he said.
In India, services contribute 56 per cent of Gross Domestic Product. Even in countries like Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Maldives services such as tourism, banking, telecom and financial sector are becoming an important engine of growth.
SAFTA, which became operational from July 2006, has failed to make much of an impact because Pakistan continues to deny market access to India and meet its obligation. Pakistan has also alleged its goods face non-tariff barriers in India.
Menon said the ministers discussed prospects of operationalisation of the SAARC Development Fund (SDF). India has committed 100 million dollars to the SDF which has mobilised 300 million dollars.
The discussions centred around operating it from three fronts- a soft window for poverty alleviation and another for projects infrastructure development.
Progress on this issue is expected to be reviewed by the ministerial meet in November.
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