Lok Sabha Question No. 179 (STARRED), answered on 2016-03-09
Subject: Agreements among SAARC Nations
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: KIRIT PREMJIBHAI SOLANKI, PR. SENTHILNATHAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.179 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.03.2016

## AGREEMENTS AMONG SAARC NATIONS

*179. DR. KIRIT P. SOLANKI: SHRI PR. SENTHIL NATHAN:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has signed mutual cooperation treaty with  the  South  Asian  Association  for  Regional  Cooperation (SAARC) nations on criminal matters, if so, the details in this regard;
- (b)      whether  the  Government  also  proposes  to  raise  a  common disaster response force on the lines of UN peacekeeping force for specialized response to national and man-made disaster in collaboration  with  SAARC  member  countries  and  if  so,  the details thereof;
- (c) whether  India  has  also  constituted  Joint  Working  Groups (JWGs) among Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal (BBIN) for co-operation  on  various  issues  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof; and
- (d)       the  details  of  negotiations  held/treaties  signed  on  all  the aforesaid matters along with the benefits likely to accrue to India as a result thereof ?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRIMATI SUSHMA SWARAJ)

(a) to (d)    A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 179 ON 'AGREEMENT AMONG SAARC NATIONS' FOR ANSWER ON 09.03.2016

The SAARC Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters was signed at Colombo, Sri Lanka on 3 rd August, 2008 during the 15 th SAARC Summit.

2.            Mutual  assistance  to  be  rendered  under  the  said  Convention  shall,  inter  alia, include  (i)  locating  and  identifying  persons  and  objects  (ii)  service  of  judicial documents (iii) search and seizure (iv) taking evidence and obtaining statements (v) facilitating  appearance  of  witnesses  or  assistance  of  persons  in  investigations  (vi) making  detained  persons  available  to  give  evidence  or  assist  investigations  (vii) taking  measures  to  locate,  restrain  or  forfeit  the  proceeds  and  instruments  of  crime (viii) taking measures to locate, freeze and confiscate funds or finances meant for the financing  of  all  criminal  acts  in  the  territory  of  either  State  Party  (ix)  any  other assistance  consistent  with  the  objectives  of  the  Convention  and  the  laws  of  the requested State Party, as may be mutually agreed upon.
3.     India has ratified the said Convention on 29 th August, 2008. The Convention is yet to come into force as some Member States of SAARC have not ratified it so far.
4.      Concerned at the increasing frequency and scale of natural disasters in the South Asian region and their damaging impacts both short-term and long-term, the SAARC Agreement  on  Rapid  Response  to  Natural  Disasters  was  signed  during  the  17 th SAARC  Summit  held  in  Addu  City,  Maldives  on  11 th November,  2011  with  the objective  to  provide  effective  regional  mechanism  for  rapid  response  to  disasters. There  is  no  proposal  under  consideration  of  the  Government  of  India  to  raise  a common disaster response force in collaboration with SAARC nations.
5. Joint  Working  Groups  on  Sub-Regional  Cooperation  between  Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal (BBIN) on Water Resources Management and Power/Hydropower,  connectivity and transit have been constituted to harness advantages  of  regional  and  sub-regional  cooperation  in  power,  water  resources, transport and other forms of connectivity.

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