Jun.27, 2010, 10:21 AM

KATHMANDU: SAARC Ministers for Interior/Home have called for a comprehensive regional strategy to fight against terrorism, drug trafficking, and human trafficking.

The third meeting of the SAARC Ministers for Interior/Home held in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan on Saturday also adopted the SAARC Islamabad Statement on Cooperation against Terrorism, which reaffirms the commitment to further strengthen cooperation to fight and eradicate terrorism in all forms and magnification.

The meeting also recognised that terrorism poses a serious threat to the peace and security of the region.

In his statement at the meeting, Home Minister Bhim Rawal underscored the need for a multi-prong strategy to fight against the scourge of terrorism and other trans-national organized crimes such as money laundering, illicit drug trafficking, trafficking in persons, fire arms and the like.

At the sidelines of the SAARC Ministerial Meeting, Home Minister Rawal also met with Federal Minister for Interior of Pakistan, A. Rehman Malik and Union Home Minister of India, P. Chidambaram separately and discussed matters of mutual interest and strengthening cooperation between the two countries.

The Ministerial meeting was preceded by a meeting of Home Secretaries, immigration officials and other senior ranking government officials of the SAARC countries.