South Asian leaders gather for regional summit with focus on terrorism

South Asian leaders called Tuesday for vigorous efforts to thwart terrorism, slow climate change, and tackle energy and food shortages as they met for an annual summit.

One-fifth of the world's people _ and many of its most impoverished _ live in the eight countries in the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation, or SAARC, a group that has often been seen as little more than a talk shop for regional leaders since its founding in 1985.

SAARC consists of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, the Maldives, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, which became a member Monday.

The group was set up to promote economic cooperation and has since sought to tackle a range of issues, from food security to terrorism. But progress in most areas has been slow, mainly because of the rivalry between India and Pakistan.

The issue of terrorism was raised by Afghanistan, the newest SAARC member, host India and Sri Lanka.

"It is our common duty to fight extremism and terrorism in all forms and sources, including political sponsorship and financing," said Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who received applause from regional leaders as he walked to the podium.

India and Sri Lanka have for decades battled separatist groups that often launch terror attacks. Afghanistan says Taliban militants are orchestrating assaults from Pakistani territory, a charge Pakistan denies.

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse warned that unless South Asian nations act collectively, trans-border terrorist groups will find safe havens.

"Our region as a whole is not safe from barbaric terrorist groups," he said, referring to a recent air attack by Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam rebels on an air base on the outskirts of the Sri Lankan capital.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and other leaders acknowledged that SAARC has made limited progress, and asked member nations to act quickly to bring about social and economic changes.

"Let us move from debate and discussions to concrete action," Aziz said.

Along with terrorism, the summit's agenda includes discussions of the establishment of a South Asian university and a regional food bank, and overcoming problems in implementing a regional free trade agreement that came into effect in July.

Singh said India was ready to open its markets to South Asian nations without insisting on reciprocity. He also highlighted the need to tackle global climate change and regional energy and food shortages.

"Energy security, food security and climate change are all issues that impact on our development strategies and which need our focused attention," he said.

Member states also are considering India's proposal to streamline the visa process for each others' citizens. Singh said New Delhi would make it easier for teachers, students, journalists and medical patients from SAARC countries to get Indian visas.

Representatives from China, Japan, South Korea, the United States and European Union are attending the summit's opening and closing sessions and some meetings as observers.

SAARC foreign ministers also cleared the way for Iran's admission as an observer, and that proposal now awaits the approval of the leaders.