The two-day SAARC Summit concluded at Thimphu in Bhutan with member countries vowing to root out terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. The Eight-member grouping of South Asian nations also pledged to infuse new dynamism to its activities for the region’s development. Thimphu Silver Jubilee Declaration has noted that SAARC had not achieved its potential even 25 years after coming into being. They decided to have a Vision Statement and set up a forum of experts which will provide inputs for charting out its future course in the medium and long run. After detailed deliberations over issues like security, trade, climate change, enery, food security, poverty-alleviation and disaster management, the Summit issued a declaration — Towards a Green and Happy South Asia, which spelt out a slew of initiatives to bring about overall development of the region. The Leaders also strongly condemned terrorism and reiterated their firm resolve to root out the menace. The countries, including Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka reaffirmed their commitment to implement the SAARC Regional Convention on Suppression of Terrorism and its Additional Protocol and SAARC Convention on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances. The SAARC leaders also recognized in this regard the value of the proposed UN Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism and noted the progress made during the recent rounds of negotiations and called for an early conclusion of the Convention. The leaders also welcomed the signing of the SAARC Agreement on Trade in Services during the Summit and hoped that it would open up new vistas of trade cooperation and further deepen the integration of the regional economies. They called for the early ratification of the Agreement. The member countries reiterated their commitment to implement SAFTA in letter and spirit. Pakistan has refused to implement the agreement in relation to India and insists on trading on the basis of Positive List of items. <br/>Briefing media persons, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said that SAARC Declaration at the 25th anniversary of the Summit emphasises the need for a collective approach to the common problems faced by the region.