India to press Pakistan to cooperate to end cross-border terrorism
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
New Delhi, Feb 21, IRNA -- India will press for concrete and sincere cooperation by Pakistan to end cross-border terrorism at the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Ministerial meeting in Colombo on Friday.
External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who will attend the meeting of eight-nation grouping, is expected to underline the need for early ratification of SAARC Convention on Terrorism which is already in place, All India Radio (AIR) reported.
The meeting is taking place in the background of Mumbai terror attacks and the Sri Lanka's ongoing war on LTTE, will also discuss a proposal to set up a task force at regional level to fight terrorism.
India, however, maintains that such mechanisms will have no utility until member countries are sincere in cooperating in concrete manner, an apparent reference to Pakistan.
At the last Summit in Colombo in August 2008, the SAARC also firmed up a regional level Mutual Legal Assistance Agreement.
The ministerial meeting of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Nepal, Maldives, Bhutan and host Sri Lanka will be preceded by official and foreign secretary-level discussions.
Mukherjee is expected to meet his Sri Lankan counterpart Rohitha Bogollogama and discuss the latest situation in north of island nation.
India has been concerned over the humanitarian situation caused by the conflict in north Sri Lanka.
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End News / IRNA / News Code 364417
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