ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN, JAN 04 - Amid intense security arrangements and optimism – courtesy, improved Indo-Pak relations – the 12th SAARC Summit, poised to begin tomorrow is set to bury the lacklustre past and begin a fresh start by adopting a common treaty for South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA).The seven SAARC ministers today gave the final touch to the draft treaty that will be endorsed by the heads of member countries in the course of the three-day summit.
The agreement will enter into force by January 1, 2006 after completion of the required formalities, including ratification by all member states.
The member countries have also agreed that non-LDC member states will reduce their tariffs to 0-5 per cent in a period of seven years from the date of entry into force of the agreement. Similarly, the LDC member states will reduce the tariffs in a period of ten years.
Besides, the SAFTA Treaty Framework, the ministerial meeting also agreed on Social Charter and Additional Protocol on Terrorism.
To ink this historic treaty, all the seven Head of States/Governments of SAARC countries arrived here today amidst unprecedented security arrangements in Islamabad. Prime Ministry Surya Bahadur Thapa, who is also the reigning chairperson of SAARC, arrived here today from Bangkok.
The security arrangement is so tight that military, paramilitary and police have virtually sealed the city. The motorcade of the delegates were escorted by, among others, helicopters mounted with machineguns. Even the vehicles of the foreign journalists shuttling between their hotels and media centres are escorted by security personnel.
With two abortive bids on President Pervez Musharraf’s life in less than two weeks’ time, Pakistan obviously wants to feel safe than sorry during this historic summit. Even the airlines carrying passengers other than the SAARC delegates have been re-routed to other neighbouring cities and the Islamabad airport has been closed down during sensitive hours.India-Pakistan relations, as always, dominated the summit and the attention of 700-plus journalists covering the mega event.
The lingering uncertainty over the possible meeting between Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajapayee and Pakistani President Musharraf or Pakistani Prime Minister Jaffarullah Khan Jamali till this evening has lent further credence to such scepticism.
The Pakistani officials have explicitly stated that they are keen for the bilateral negotiations with India at the highest possible level. Talking to the reporters this evening, Pakistani Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri said, " We are ready to meet anytime, anywhere with anyone."
But so far I have not got any confirmation from the Indian side regarding this, he said. However, he hastened to add, "This, however, should not be construed as there won’t be a meeting at the top level."But India seems to be downplaying such prospects, saying that SAARC is mainly a multilateral forum and bilateral issues mattered least during the summit.Posted on: 2004-01-05 05:02

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