At SAARC Summit, PM Modi likely to raise terror concern, call for zero tolerance
MEA has not ruled out a meeting between Narendra Modi and Nawaz Sharif
Kathmandu: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to seek the cooperation of India's neighbours to check extremist violence and adopt an approach of zero tolerance towards terrorism at the two-day SAARC Summit beginning Wednesday in Kathmandu.
Mr Modi is expected to strongly raise the issue of terrorism, which has affected most of the South Asian countries and stress the need of tackling the menace jointly, official sources said on Monday.
Mr Modi will highlight before the heads of SAARC nations that India has been taking an approach of zero tolerance towards the problem and all countries must adopt a similar approach, sources said.
Mr Modi arrives in Kathmandu on Tuesday and will have separate meetings with Nepal President Ram Baran Yadav, Prime Minister Sushil Koirala and other senior leaders of Nepal. He will also inaugurate a 200-bed trauma centre at Kathmandu's Bir Hospital and hand over an Advanced Light Helicopter for Nepal's army.
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, Mr 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.