India concerned at Pak prevention of implementation of SAFTA

Dhaka, Aug 1 (UNI) India today expressed deep concern over Pakistan stalling the implementation of the SAFTA and said the SAARC Council of Ministers had a responsibility to take a stand against any country-specific measures.

Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed who is attending the 27th Session of the SAARC Council of Ministers here, at a meeting with Bangladesh Foreign Minister Morshed Khan conveyed India's deep concerns over the actions being taken by Pakistan in preventing the implementation of the SAFTA and underlined that the SAARC Council of Ministers had a ressponsibility to take a stand against any country-specific measures.

Mr Morshed Khan reiterated Bangladesh's commitment to SAFTA and assured that as the current Chair of the SAARC, it would make all efforts to find a resolution to this issue.

At a meeting organised on the sidelines of the Session, Mr Ahamed stressed the importance of mutual cooperation to curb the rise of fundamentalist and extremist beliefs and said Bangladesh could set an example to others by fighting such trends.

''Terrorism, today, poses the greatest danger to the peaceful and stable existence of nation-states in the world today...

The recent blasts in Mumbai and Srinagar have once again shown the kind of destruction such elements can cause and the extent to which these elements can go to impose their views and beliefs. We believe Bangladesh should and can set an example to others. It is in our mutual interest to cooperate and work to curb the rise of fundamentalist and extremist beliefs,'' he said, pointing out that open and democratic societies were most vulnerable to the threat posed by extremism and terrorism.

Mr Ahamed also called on Bangladesh Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia and Foreign Minister Morshed Khan separately and reiterated India's commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations.

At the meeting with the Foreign Minister, SAARC-related issues were discussed and West Asia developments reviewed.

He also underlined the importance of ensuring that an important SAARC Treaty did not 'unravel' at the very first step.

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