SAARC summit began today in the Bhutanese capital Thimpu with member nations pledging to jointly combat the twin challenges of climate change and terrorism. <br/><br/>Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh announced the setting up of an India Endowment for climate change in South Asia to help member states in meeting urgent adaptation and capacity building needs. He also announced the setting up of Climate Innovation Centres in South Asia to develop sustainable energy technologies based on indigenous resource endowments. <br/><br/>Leaders from India Nepal, Maldives, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka also pitched for collective approach in dealing with the effects of climate change. <br/><br/>Voicing concerns over the menace of terrorism, extremism and radicalism, Prime Minister Singh said, abhorrence of extremism, radicalism and terrorism are part of the region's civilisational heritage. <br/><br/>Dr Singh asked the SAARC countries to pledge to revive the South Asia of our dreams that is once again a source of new ideas, new knowledge and new opportunities. <br/><br/>Making a strong pitch for regional cooperation and development, the Prime Minister said, despite individual cooperation by members in various international forum, the people of South Asia together don't have the voice they should and could have in the global polity.