A growing convergence of interests in tackling cross-border crimes has brought SAARC nations closer to a Regional Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters. A meeting of SAARC Home ministers here on Thursday is set to discuss details of the convention.

India has bilateral mutual legal assistance treaties (MLATs) with several countries, but an umbrella arrangement — like a SAARC convention — is expected to give a push to regional cooperation in tackling crime. This is crucial since security agencies investigating recent terror strikes believe that terrorists have close links with organisations in neighbouring countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh.

A draft convention had been submitted by India at an earlier meeting, but Pakistan and Bangladesh had expressed reservations. A meeting of SAARC Home secretaries on Wednesday, however, had the members in agreement on the need to move forward on a joint mechanism to check cross-border crimes and terrorism, official sources said.

Experts will now be asked to work out the specifics of the convention and this is likely to figure at Thursday’s meeting of Home ministers, which will be chaired by Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil. SAARC members will have to work out the funding pattern for such a mechanism and the nature of technology needed to make it effective.

The draft convention calls for cooperation in making persons detained in one country available for investigation if he was wanted in a crime in another country. A similar arrangement has been suggested when it comes to locating and identifying persons involved in terrorism. It also looks at steps to locate or seize the proceeds of crime or funds intended to be used for terrorism.

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