A meeting of high level group of experts from SAARC countries to strengthen anti-terror mechanism was held in New Delhi recently. The two-day meeting was attended by delegates from Bhutan, India, Afghanistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and the SAARC Secretariat. Indian delegation was led by Nehchal Sandhu, Director, Intelligence Bureau.

Issues relating to further improving the functioning of SAARC terrorist offences monitoring desk (STOMD) and the SAARC drug offences monitoring desk (SDOMD) based in Colombo, Sri Lanka; review of the enabling legislation enacted by the member states on SAARC Regional Convention on Suppression of Terrorism and its additional protocol as well as the SAARC Convention on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances and to further enhance the implementation process of these conventions by the member states were discussed. The meeting considered the SAARC convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters as well.

Exchange of information among the member states on a real-time basis for better coordination to counter-terrorism and drug-related activities, developing cooperation, capacity and relationship building among the SAARC police authorities were identified, among others, as possible methods of strengthening the SAARC anti-terrorism mechanism.