Fourteenth SAARC Summit begins tomorrow

New Delhi, Apr 2 (UNI) Gathering perhaps for the first time in an atmosphere of relative peace in South Asia, leaders of SAARC nations at their 14th summit here tomorrow will chalk out an elaborate strategy to rid the region of terrorism, drug trafficking, hunger and disease and ensure its speedy economic development.

The two-day SAARC Summit, to be held at the majestic Vigyan Bhavan here amid tight security, will also culminate with the signing of a historic agreement among the member nations to set up a South Asian University.

The summit will be attended by Bangladesh Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed, Bhutan Prime Minister Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk, Maldives President M A Gayoom, Nepal Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of India.

Afghanistan, which joins the regional grouping as its eighth member, will be represented by President Hamid Karzai.

For the first time, the United States, European Union, China, Japan and South Korea would attend a SAARC Summit as observers, reflecting the importance the association has attained as a regional grouping.

The SAARC nations have already approved Iran's application for granting it the observer status.

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