By IANS
New Delhi : Home secretaries of the eight South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries, including its newest member Afghanistan, will discuss cooperation in police matters at a three-day conference here beginning Tuesday.
“India is hosting the second meeting of SAARC interior/home ministers preceded by the second meeting of SAARC home secretaries and sixth SAARC conference on cooperation in police matters during Oct 23-25. As per SAARC tradition India, as host, will chair the meetings,” the ministry of home affairs (MHA) said in a statement.
“The home secretaries will be meeting Tuesday in the capital, while home ministers would meet Wednesday for the sixth SAARC summit on police matters in the capital,” the statement added.
According the ministry, the meetings will continue exchange of apex level ideas and perspectives on issues of criticality and work towards enhancement of cooperation in security management and related issues.
At the 14th SAARC Summit held in the capital April, the heads of government emphasised the importance of increased cooperation in security related areas – especially the need to combat terrorism, narcotics and psychotropic substances, trafficking in women and children and other trans-national crimes.
“The meetings beginning Tuesday are expected to deliberate on, among others, a network of cooperation amongst police chiefs, SAARC visa exemption scheme, a draft convention on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, greater strength to existing mechanisms of cooperation in drugs, terrorism and trafficking,” the statement said.