In win for India, Bimstec calls for terror crackdown

For India, the mention of cross-border terrorism is a euphemism for Pakistan allowing its territory for terror activities directed against India.

“We are for a comprehensive approach for fighting terrorism and condemn terrorism in all its manifestations. We have called for blocking cross-border terrorism and dismantling of terrorist infrastructure, wherever they exist,” Nepal’s foreign minister, Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, said after the summit.

Bimstec members such as Bhutan, Bangladesh and India had pulled out of the Saarc summit in 2016 over the issue of terrorism. India had then blamed “cross-border terror attacks” for creating an environment that was “not conducive” to the meeting of Saarc leaders.

“A stunted SAARC is giving impetus to Bimstec,” said strategic affairs expert Brahma Chellany.

“Legal assistance and frameworks are crucial instruments in combating terrorism and transnational crimes. In this context, the Bimstec convention on mutual legal assistance may be finalised soon,” said Sachin Chaturvedi, who heads the NewDelhi based think tank, Research and Information System for Developing Countries.

Considering that Bimstec has hosted only four summits since it was founded in 1997, the leaders decided to streamline and strengthen the working of the grouping. The grouping is also