The Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram attending the fourth SAARC Interior/Home Ministers Meeting at Thimpu, Bhutan, has called for a proactive agenda on cooperation in the neighbourhood to eliminate the threats posed by terrorists, drug traffickers, arms smugglers and others whose activities affect the safety and security of the people of the region.

Recalling the Conference of the Interior/Home Ministers of SAARC countries in Islamabad in June 2010, he said it was agreed, inter-alia, on the broad contours of cooperation to combat terrorism.

“I am sure that all of us are equally committed to our common endeavour in eliminating the menace of terrorism.

“Terrorism is the most significant existential challenge to peace and security in our region. It is the single largest hindrance to socio-economic development in South Asia. The lives and safety of our people continue to remain at significant risk from targeted, deliberate and cowardly terrorist outrages.

“Since this is a common challenge that has affected most of us, it is clear that only with the fullest cooperation amongst us can we tackle the threat of terrorism. We have no alternative but to deploy the best instruments and resources at our disposal in our fight against terrorism. It is from this perspective that we need to examine the existing mechanisms we have for countering terrorism, drug trafficking, trafficking in human beings, arms smuggling and counterfeiting including organized production and distribution of fake Indian currency notes.

“The South Asian region is perhaps the most troubled and vulnerable region in the world. The vast majority of major terrorist incidents this year – as well as last year – have occurred in this region. Terrorist groups in this region have flourished because of the support they have found from State and non-State actors. Sometimes, I think that the distinction between State actors and non-State actors is misplaced and intended to misdirect our efforts to deal with terrorist groups at the very source – the recruitment centres, the training camps and their safe havens and sanctuaries. If I may speak frankly, let me say that no State and no government can escape responsibility by pointing to non-State actors. As long as the territory of a country is used by non-State actors to prepare for terrorist attacks, that country owes a legal and moral responsibility to its neighbours and to the world to suppress those non-State actors and bring them to justice.

“What we need now is to be more proactive in implementing our resolutions in letter and spirit. For instance, there is much more we can do in sharing information on a real-time basis on terrorism and all forms of organised criminal activity. Take the case of our existing Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters, signed nearly three years ago at the 15th Summit. If we act on the provisions of the Convention, it will facilitate evidence-sharing and the seizure and confiscation of criminal and terrorist funds.”