Viewing terrorism as a “serious threat” to South Asia’s peace and development, SAARC countries today decided to have regular exchange of information to combat the menace and push efforts for establishing a convention for mutual legal assistance in criminal matters.

“The meeting noted that terrorism remains a serious threat to sustainable peace and development in the SAARC region,” Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta told reporters at the end of the three-day conference of SAARC home ministers.

He said considering the need for more frequent and higher level of interaction, it was agreed that the conference on cooperation in police matters should be upgraded to the level of police chiefs and held bi-annually as against the present system of annual meetings.

Gupta said Pakistan has offered to host the next meeting of police chiefs (intelligence heads) in Islamabad in February 2008.

Giving a push to efforts for tackling cross-border crimes, like drug and human trafficking, money laundering and arms smuggling besides terrorism, the SAARC countries decided to strengthen institutional mechanisms to facilitate “closer cooperation and more frequent interaction”, he said.