Awami League (AL) General Secretary Abdul Jalil said South Asian countries should work together under the banner of Saarc to combat terrorism as it has become the common problem for all nations in the region.

In an interview with The Daily Star yesterday ahead of the 13th Saarc Summit on Saturday, the key opposition leader observed that terrorism has plagued the region severely for the past decade, posing a big threat to the progress of the nations.

“Terrorism has no boundary…. It's a problem for Bangladesh, India, Pakistan as well as for the other countries in the region,” Jalil said. The Saarc leaders should treat each other as good partners in the fight against terrorism, he added.

He expressed his apprehension that the process of regional cooperation will be destroyed if the seven nations failed to tackle terrorism unitedly through the forum of Saarc.

Jalil believes that the South Asian leaders should give the issue top priority and make additional efforts to tackle it, otherwise it will hamper the spirit of the Saarc--regional co-operation for socioeconomic development of the people in the region and mutual co-operation among the member countries of South Asia.

He said effectiveness of the South Asian body greatly depends on congenial relationship between India and Pakistan. He hopes that recent development in the Indo-Pak relationship would make a positive impact in the region's stability as well as help to make the Saarc a functional body.

If the South Asian leaders sincerely pledge to make the Saarc effective, Jalil believes it will have a positive impact on the welfare of the people as well as economic and social development and cooperation amongst the member countries.

Evaluating the last two decade's achievement of the Saarc, the senior leader said that it is unfortunate for the people of this region that the body failed to prove its

functionality.

“Mistrust among the nations is the main reason for which Saarc is yet to become a functional and effective body after two decades of its founding,” he said.

Since no platform can be useful if its members do not trust each other, Jalil placed stress on the political will of the Saarc leaders to use the forum for overall development of the South Asian people.

The former commerce minister also sees a great opportunity of trade among the countries in the region and said, “Everything depends on political willingness and trust whether it is in the case of increasing regional trade or strengthening relationships among the countries.”

The Saarc leaders should make commitment for meaningful cooperation, not merely hold summit meetings, he added.