Declaration may open door to bilateral talks

The declaration of the 11th Saarc summit that concluded here yesterday including a key phrase on "informal consultations" that could open the door to bilateral issues being discussed.

Under the header 'Terrorism' it states "heads of state are convinced that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations is a challenge to all states and all of humanity and cannot be justified on ideological, political religious or any other ground".

It also states "the leaders agree that terrorism violates the fundamental values of the UN and the Saarc charter and constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security in the 21st century."

The significance lies in the paragraph that calls on "all states to prevent and suppress the financing of terrorist acts by criminalising the collection of funds for such acts and refraining from organising activities within its territory directed towards the commission of such acts".

This, while echoing the UN Security Council resolution 1373, is also believed to have been welcomed by both the Indian and Pakistani officials.

The Indian officials believe that it refers to "cross-border terrorism", the euphemism they adopt for attacks across the border into Kashmir.

However, senior Pakistani officials say that the border that India refers to in the Kathmandu declaration is only a "Line of Control" and not a border.

Under the header enhancing political cooperation it also states "the heads of state or government reaffirmed their commitment to promotion of mutual trust and understanding … agreed that a process of informal consultations would prove useful".

Pakistani officials believe they have won a small victory here as "unofficial consultations" opens the door to bringing in talks on bilateral relations through the back door as the Saarc charter which does not allow bilateral issues to be discussed cannot be changed unless all seven leaders agree.