Pak calls on SAARC nations to do 'reality check'

Pakistan's Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Thursday called on the SAARC nations to do a reality check of what they have achieved so far, adding it is time to seize the moment and overcome the challenges.

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Delivering the inaugural address here at the seventh meeting of the SAARC Home Ministers, Khan said Pakistan is committed to the SAARC process and desires to see it a successful regional organisation.

"We have made substantial contributions towards various SAARC processes and have taken a number of initiatives in furthering the goals of closed regional integration," he added.

The Interior Minister hoped that SAARC would continue to move forward with the same momentum in order to achieve the common goal of peace, stability and progress in the region.

"A significant headway has been made in the regional collaboration in the areas related to peace and security, drug trafficking, trans-national organised crimes, trafficking in women and children and maritime piracy," he said.

Khan also called for collective effort to fight the challenges and threats which the South Asian region faces.

"We are aware of the fact that South Asia region faces a number of daunting challenges and threats like militancy, extremism, terrorism, social injustice, corruption and organised crimes like drug trafficking, humans, smuggling and money laundering. There are also host of other problems that have critical ramifications for our law enforcement agencies. Such challenges have affected our collective socio-economic development," he added.

The Interior Minister also called on the member nations to exchange experiences and expertise of national institutions in order to deal with these threats at inter and intra SAARC level.

"The South Asian region shares similar history and common borders. Its law enforcement agencies need to evolve similar strategies and tactics for combating organised crimes. They need to create a safer and secure environment for a peaceful South Asia that is free from violence, organised crime and social injustice. The hopes and aspirations of over one billion population of the region can be fulfilled if we collectively ensure rule of law, promote good governance and cooperate to fight crimes together," he said.

The Interior Ministers from seven SAARC countries, minus Bangladesh, are attending the meeting here to discuss the issues pertaining to terrorism, drugs and human trafficking and regional affairs.

The SAARC group includes Pakistan, India, Nepal, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. The platform aims to boost ties and cooperation between the member states.