SAARC interior secretaries meeting underway in Islamabad

Islamabad, Aug. 3 (ANI): The meeting of the Home Secretaries of the SAARC countries is currently underway at Islamabad during which a host of issues, including topics relating to terrorism, narcotics, smuggling and immigration issues are likely to be discussed. The meeting will formulate recommendations for the Interior Ministers of the Association which is scheduled to be held in Islamabad tomorrow. Pakistan's Interior Secretary Arif Ali Khan has been elected as Chairman of the meeting of SAARC Interior Secretaries, who is presiding over the meeting, reports Radio Pakistan. Meanwhile, Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh will later today leave for Pakistan to attend the seventh SAARC Home/Interior Ministers meeting. Singh, in his speech at the two-day meeting, is expected to raise the issue of Pakistan's support to terror groups operating in India and ask Islamabad to check Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and other groups based in that country. The ministry of External Affairs had already made it clear there would be no bilateral meeting between the Home Minister and the Pakistani leaders. The visit comes in the backdrop of growing strain in the bilateral relations after Pakistan and its Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif made provocative statements on the Kashmir situation in the wake of a militant's killing on July 8. (ANI)