NDA government committed to reviving SAARC: Rajnath Singh

The NDA government at the Centre is committed to reviving SAARC as a major forum to promote active collaboration in the region, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said on Thursday.

"SAARC is an important forum where the members seek to promote the welfare of the people in South Asia and strengthen collective self-reliance," he said before leaving for Kathmandu to attend SAARC Home Minister's conference.

Singh said he was looking forward to his Nepal visit and the SAARC meeting where important issues pertaining to regional security and prosperity would be discussed.

He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had demonstrated his out-of-the-box thinking by inviting leaders of all SAARC nations for the swearing-in ceremony.

"It shows the level of importance the government in New Delhi attaches to its immediate neighbours and SAARC nations," he said.

During the meeting on Friday, the Home Minister is expected to flag issues like cross-border terrorism and dismantling of terror infrastructure operating from some SAARC nations.

Issues like suppression of terrorism, maritime security, piracy, narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, combating corruption and cyber crimes will be discussed threadbare at the ministerial-level and official-level meetings of the law enforcement authorities of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries.

Other issues to be discussed at the conference, include mutual assistance in criminal matters, trafficking in women and children and promotion of child welfare in South Asia.

The Home Minister will call on Nepal President Ram Baran Yadav, Prime Minister Sushil Koirala and Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Bamdev Gautam and the leaders of Nepali Congress.
Singh will also meet the leaders of other political parties in Nepal.