India alleges serious security lapse at Saarc

India said on Wednesday there had been serious security lapses during a visit to Sri Lanka by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh despite the island nation’s promise of “ultimate security.”

The Sri Lankan bodyguard assigned to protect Singh did not turn up during a regional summit last weekend, while the motorcade for India’s National Security Advisor MK Narayanan failed to appear.

There was a “serious lapse in that some of the arrangements discussed and agreed to in advance, did not get implemented on the ground,” the Indian High Commission (embassy) here said in a statement.

Sri Lanka is in the grip of a long-running ethnic war between government forces and Tamil Tiger rebels. The Tigers are blamed for the 1991 murder of former Indian premier Rajiv Gandhi.

The security lapse “was immediately discussed with Sri Lankan security authorities and remedial measures taken jointly.... Sri Lankan security authorities have apologised to Mr Narayanan,” the Indian statement said.

Local press reports said Narayanan wound up returning to his hotel from the conference site in a taxi.

He was stopped at two road blocks and asked to walk since his taxi did not have security clearance to get to the hotel.

The lapses came despite the Sri Lankan government promising “ultimate security” to the visiting dignitaries from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, The Maldives, Nepal and Pakistan.

Indian diplomats had voiced concerns over security ahead of the two-day summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, and they had brought in their own guards, helicopters and ships to minimise any risk.

Source: www.thenews.com.pk

Badal writes to PM and seeks inquiry into Ishmeet's death

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Wednesday urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to order an inquiry from an appropriate authority into the cause of death of the Ludhiana based budding singer Ishmeet Singh who died by drowning in the swimming pool of a resort in Maldives where he had gone to attend a function.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, Badal mentioned that it had been reported in the media that many sections of public had raised apprehensions about the cause of death.

The Chief Minister also pointed out that he also attended Ishmeet's Bhog ceremony, where the mammoth gathering and his parents had requested him to get an inquiry conducted into the cause of death as they feared a foul play because of professional rivalry.

Badal reiterated that an inquiry into the cause of death by an appropriate authority should be got conducted so that the apprehensions and cobwebs are cleared in the minds of the public and the parents of the deceased.

It may be mentioned that Ishmeet Singh had won the Voice of India , a popular competition held by one of the television channels a few months back.

The entire nation was plunged into deep shock and grief over the death of young icon's passing away in the prime of his youth, an official release said here.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

The Maldives to host 16th SAARC Summit

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Sunday decided to hold the 16th SAARC summit in the Maldives.

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa announced at the conclusion of the 15th SAARC summit that the Maldives would host the 16th Summit.

The Maldives was originally selected as the venue for the 15th SAARC summit. However, its officials said they would not be able to host the summit and Sri Lanka volunteered to take over.

Initially the Sri Lankan authorities chose Kandy an ancient hillside town as the site for the summit. Due to lack of infrastructure and security concerns, Sri Lanka decided to move it to Colombo.

The eight heads of state or government from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan meet annually to discuss problems facing the region in a bid to promote economic and political cooperation.

The 14th SAARC summit was held in Indian capital New Delhi in April last year.

Source: news.xinhuanet.com

The 15th SAARC Summit draws to a close with a firm pledge to redouble efforts to counter regional terrorism.

The closing session was held at the BMICH this afternoon. Before the arrival of the leaders at the premises, Foreign Ministers and other representatives gathered for a meeting. Minister Rohitha Bogollagama welcomed President Rajapakse who has assumed Chairmanship of the eight member grouping. He was followed by Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Special Advisor of Bangladesh Fakhruddin Ahmed, Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, Maldivian President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, Prime Minister of the Caretaker Government of Nepal Girija Prasad Koirala,

Prime Minister of Bhutan Jigmi Thinley and Prime Minister of Pakistan Yousuf Raza Gilani Thereafter the concluding sessions got off the grounds in the afternoon. After warmly greeting the leaders, President Rajapakse, the SAARC Chairman announced that it was pertinent to ink agreements that have been reached. Foreign Ministers representing Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives and Sri Lanka and Minister in Charge of Financial Activities of Nepal signed the agreements. Current SAARC Chairman President Rajapakse then declared that the 16th SAARC Summit will be held in the Maldives. After a brief review on matters which are most vital to achieve peace and prosperity in the region, President Rajapakse declared that the 15th SAARC Summit has concluded. The President then invited his Maldivian counterpart Maumoon Abdul Gayoom to make a special address. As SAARC Chairman, the President expressed his gratitude to the leaders for attending the Conference.

Source: www.itn.lk

Terrorism Talks Overshadow South Asian Summit

South Asian leaders have agreed to work jointly to combat terrorism, eradicate poverty, ensure regional food security and enhance trade ties. The declaration was affirmed in Sri lanka at the 15th summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation . VOA Correspondent Steve Herman in Colombo reports the conference was overshadowed by tense meetings on the sidelines involving several of the leaders.

As the SAARC summit concluded, Afghanistan and Pakistan agreed to devise a "common strategy" to deal with terrorism, including reducing the movement of extremists across their common border.

In a joint statement following a meeting between Afghanistan's president Hamid Karzai and Pakistani prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, the neighbors agreed to coordinate efforts to halt cross-border terrorism.

Not mentioned in the statement was the July 7 bombing of the Indian Embassy in the Afghan capital, in which about 60 people died. Afghanistan and India have accused Pakistan's intelligence agency of masterminding the attack.

Mr. Gilani met Saturday with Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh. The Pakistani leader promised to conduct an independent investigation into the embassy blast and possible links to his country's intelligence service.

The sideline meetings - and the presence of high-profile observers, including Iran's foreign minister - took the spotlight off the actual summit.

The leaders of the association's eight nations pledged a joint fight against terrorism through a convention on trading information in criminal matters, the establishment of a $300-million fund to fight poverty, and the expedited opening of a regional food bank. They also pledged to improve cross-border trading by harmonizing quality standards.

The U.S. assistant secretary of state for the region, Richard Boucher, says such moves demonstrate the regional group is moving beyond the talking stage.

"I do not think any single organization or any single meeting is going to solve all these problems," said Boucher. "But I think every organization and every meeting should try to make a direct contribution and that is what the SAARC leaders have pledged themselves to do together. And that is what we as observers are trying to work with them to do."

In remarks at the summit, the chief of Bangladesh's caretaker government, Fakhruddin Ahmed, said SAARC is finally living up to the ideals it proposed when it was initiated.

"This summit has rekindled the hope and belief among our peoples regarding the delivery and prosperity that we collectively promised 23 years ago," said Fakhruddin Ahmed.

The SAARC leaders represent more than one of every five people on the planet, but 40 percent of the world's poor. The association is composed of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Source: www.globalsecurity.org