Narendra Modi to urge SAARC to adopt zero tolerance towards terror

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to seek the cooperation of India's neighbours to check extremist violence and to adopt an approach of zero tolerance towards terrorism at the two-day SAARC Summit beginning Wednesday in Kathmandu.

The Prime Minister is expected to articulate strongly the issue of terrorism which affected most of the South Asian countries and stress the need of tackling the menace jointly, official sources said today. Modi will highlight before the heads of SAARC nations that India, being one of the worst victims of terrorism, has been taking an approach of zero tolerance towards the problem and all countries must adopt a similar approach, sources said.

The two-day SAARC Summit is expected to deliberate on a range of issues including liberalising trade, enhancing cooperation in the fields of education, health care, ensuring energy security and to deal with challenges of climate change. Since becoming Prime Minister, Modi has been stressing on strengthening SAARC and he is likely to lay out his vision for regional cooperation in South Asia and India's approach to harnessing the developmental potential of the region.

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) comprises Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan.