Counter-terror cooperation to be focus of BIMSTEC summit in Nepal

Countering terrorism, enhancing regional connectivity and boosting trade will be key focus of the BIMSTEC summit in Kathmandu on August 30-31 which will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a host of leaders from the region, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said today.

The leaders at the summit are also likely to deliberate on having a tri-services military exercise among the member nations besides exchanging views on a free trade agreement, Secretary (East) in the MEA Preeti Saran told reporters.

The BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) is a regional grouping comprising Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan and Nepal. The grouping accounts for 22 per cent of the global population, and has a combined gross domestic product of USD 2.8 trillion.

It will be Modi's fourth visit to Nepal after becoming prime minister in 2014. He is expected to hold bilateral meetings with several leaders on the sidelines of the summit.

India has been pushing for making the BIMSTEC a vibrant form for regional collaboration as cooperation under the SAARC (South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation) framework was not moving forward.

Citing continuing support to cross-border terrorism from Pakistan, India has been maintaining that it was difficult to proceed with SAARC initiative under current circumstances. BIMSTEC excludes Pakistan.

As Pakistan was blocking connectivity initiatives such as the SAARC Motor Vehicles Agreement (MVA), India is now pushing for similar pact in BIMSTEC with an aim to enhance regional trade.

Saran said the BIMSTEC inaugural plenary session will be held in the afternoon of August 30 followed by a gala dinner and a cultural programme to be hosted by Nepal.

She said the leaders are expected to deliberate on a range of issues including ways to effectively deal with terrorism and radicalisation.

India had organised the BIMSTEC Leaders' Retreat in Goa in October 2016 during which the grouping had endorsed New Delhi's effort to corner Pakistan on terror.

In its Goa declaration, the grouping said the fight against terrorism should not only be confined to disrupting and eliminating terror networks, but strong measures must be taken against states supporting terrorists and falsely extolling their virtues.

Saran said enhancing collaboration in the areas of regional connectivity, coastal shipping, space, energy, transport and tourism will be the focus of the summit, adding the bloc was looking at firming up agreements in a number of key areas.

Next day, the leaders will have a "retreat session" to be be followed by a closing session. At the end of the summit, the BIMSTEC will come out with a declaration.