1. The President of Bangladesh, the King of
Bhutan, the Prime Minister of India, the President of Maldives,
the King of Nepal, the Prime Minister of Pakistan and the President
of Sri Lanka met at the Fourth Summit of the South Asian Association
for Regional Cooperation at Islamabad from 29-31 December, 1988.
2. The Heads of State of Government expressed their deep satisfaction
at the progress achieved by the Association since the last Summit.
They reiterated their commitment to the SAARC Charter and renewed
their determination to cooperate in promoting the welfare of
the peoplesof South Asia and to improving their quality of life
by eradicating poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, unemployment
and environmental degradation.
3. They recalled that their countries were linked by cultural,
social and historical ties and they had at their disposal substantial
human and natural resources. They recognised that these provided
a sound basis as well as immense opportunities for regional
cooperation. They therefore expressed their determination to
make optimal use of their resources for the benefit of their
people by working jointly to pursue their shared objectives.
They were aware that by acting in concert they could realise
the full potential for regional progress, taking into account
complementarities and growing inter-dependence.
4. The leaders endorsed the decision of the Council of Ministers
that any country in the region subscribing to the objectives
and principles of the SAARC Charter may be admitted as a member
of the Association by a unanimous decision of the Heads of State
of Government.
5. The Heads of State of Government expressed satisfaction
at the progress so far made in the implementation of the SAARC
Integrated Programme of Action. They underlined the need for
closer cooperation in the activities undertaken under this programme.
They took note of the measures to streamline and re-orient various
SAARC activities to make them more action-oriented so as to
improve the quality of life of their peoples. They directed
that the Secretary General may submit recommendation to the
Standing Committee which should in turn decide how to streamline
SAARC activities and make them more effective. They welcomed
the establishment of the SAARC Agricultural Information Centre
(SAIC), as well as the steps being taken for the establishment
of other regional institutions.
6. The Heads of State of Government lauded the smooth functioning
of the SAARC Audio Visual Exchange (SAVE) Programme which had
proved to be a useful medium for promoting a South Asian consciousness
amongst the peoples of the region. They decided that SAVE Programmes
should also emphasise social, economic and technical themes.
They also noted with satisfaction the successful launching of
the Youth Volunteers Programme and the SAARC Chairs, Fellowships
and Scholarships Scheme. They decided that Education may be
included as an agreed area of cooperation.
7. The Heads of State of Government expressed satisfaction
that the South Asian Food Security Reserve had become operational
on 12 August 1988. The Reserve would serve as a cushion against
food shortages and was a tangible manifestation of the spirit
of cooperation in the region.
8. The Heads of State of Government noted with satisfaction
that the SAARC Convention on Suppression of Terrorism had been
ratified and had come into effect on 22 August 1988, thus reflecting
the sincere desire on the part of the Member States to enter
into meaningful cooperation to eliminate the scourge of terrorism
from the South Asian region. They called for the adoption of
enabling measures by Member States to implement the Convention
at the earliest.
9. The Heads of State of Government expressed grave concern
over the growing magnitude and the serious effects of drug abuse,
particularly among young people, and drug trafficking. They
recognised the need for urgent and effective measures to eradicate
this evil ad decided to declare the year 1989 as the "SAARC
Year for Combating Drug Abuse and Drug Trafficking". They
agreed to launch a concerted campaign, as suited to the situation
in their respective countries, to significantly augment SAARC
efforts to eliminate drug abuse and drug trafficking. These
included closer cooperation in creating a greater awareness
of the hazards of drug abuse, exchange of expertise, sharing
of intelligence information, stringent measures to stop trafficking
in drugs and introduction of more effective laws. They directed
that the Technical Committee concerned should examine the possibility
of a Regional Convention on Drug Control.
10. The Heads of State or Government expressed their deep sense
of sorrow and profound sympathy at the loss of valuable lives
and extensive damage to property suffered during the year by
Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan as a result of unprecedented
floods, cyclones and earthquakes. In this connection, they recalled
their earlier decision at Kathmandu in November, 1987 to intensify
regional cooperation with a view to strengthening their disaster
management capabilities and took note of the recommendations
of the meeting of the SAARC Group of Experts on the Study on
the Causes and Consequences of Natural Disasters and the Protection
and Preservation of the Environment, that met in Kathmandu in
July 1988. They expressed the conviction that identification
of measures and programmes as envisaged by the Group of Experts
would supplement national, bilateral, regional and global efforts
to deal with the increasingly serious problems being faced by
the region as a result of the recurrence of natural disasters
and the continuing degradation of the environment. They urged
that the study should be completed in the shortest period of
time so that it could provide a basis for the member countries
to draw up an action plan for meaningful cooperation amongst
the Member States. They decided that a joint study be undertaken
on the "Greenhouse Effect" and its impact on the region.
11. The Heads of State or Government noted with satisfaction
that modalities for studies to be carried out for cooperation
in the areas of trade, manufactures and services had been worked
out by a Group of Experts, which met in Islamabad recently.
They emphasised the need for the completion of the studies within
the agreed time schedule. They directed that the Fourth Meeting
of Planners should examine the possibility of cooperation in
agreed areas of trade, manufactures and services, which would
promote the objectives of meeting the basic needs of the peoples
of the region. The report of the Planners should be considered
at the next Council of Ministers meeting, with a view to making
specific recommendations to the next Summit.
12. The Heads of State or Government reviewed the progress
on the Situation of Children in SAARC countries. They reiterated
their commitment made in the Bangalore Declaration to accord
the highest priority to the needs of children in national development
planning and stressed that the concept of Human Resource Development
should lay particular emphasis on the welfare and well-being
of children, especially in the literacy and health spheres.
They called for the conclusion and adoption of the UN Convention
on the Rights of the Child in 1989. They decided to declare
1990 as the "SAARC Year of the Girl Child".
13. The Heads of State or Government noted with satisfaction
the effective functioning of the SAARC Secretariat and its role
in coordinating SAARC activities. They also noted that a Headquarters
Agreement had been signed between the Secretariat and the host
Government. They thanked His Majesty's Government of Nepal for
the assistance and cooperation extended to the Secretariat.
14. The Heads of State or Government noted that the decision
to involve regional NGOs or professional bodies in SAARC activities,
taken at the Fifth Session of the Council of Ministers, pursuant
to the direction given by the Kathmandu Declaration, was an
important step towards the promotion of people-to-people contact
which has always been emphasised by the Association.
15. The Heads of State or Government stressed the need for
closer and more frequent contacts among the peoples of SAARC.
As a beginning, they decided that Supreme Court Judges and Members
of the National Parliaments of each member State would be entitled
to a special SAARC travel document which would exempt them from
visas. They further directed the Council of Ministers to examine
what other categories of persons should be given this facility
and to submit their recommendations.
16. They further noted with satisfaction the mandate given
to the Secretary General by the Council of Ministers at its
Fifth Session on the question of contacting organisations with
similar aims and purposes.
17. The Heads of State or Government expressed their determination
to give concrete shape to the objectives of SAARC. In this context
they emphasised the need to progressively carry out SAARC activities
within a broad framework of a long-term perspective and to harmonize
their efforts to ensure tangible benefits to the peoples of
South Asia as a whole. They were conscious of the fact that
all South Asian countries faced problems in varying degrees
in areas such as food, clothing, shelter, education, primary
health care, population planning and environmental protection.
Towards this end they were of the view that all Member States
should identity areas of core interest in their national perspective
plans or prepare such plans and consolidate them into a regional
plan to be called "SAARC-2000 : A Basic Needs Perspective",
with specific targets to be met by the end of the century.
18. They recognised that Human Resource Development is one
of the means of realizing these objectives. In this context
they welcomed the offer of the Government of Pakistan to host
a Centre for Human Resource Development and directed the Secretary-General
to set up a Group of Experts from Member States to examine the
proposal on the basis of a paper to be prepared by the Government
of Pakistan and to submit its recommendations to the Standing
Committee.
19. The Heads of State or Government reaffirmed their abiding
commitment to the purposes and principles enshrined in the UN
Charter, particularly those enjoining respect for the sovereign
equality, territorial integrity and national independence, non-use
or threat of use of force, non-interference in the internal
affairs of other states and peaceful settlement of all disputes.
They reiterated their faith in the United Nations as the most
important forum for the maintenance of international peace and
security and for the promotion of international cooperation
aimed at the progress and prosperity of mankind.
20. The Heads of State or Government noted with satisfaction
the relaxation of global tensions through intensified super-power
dialogue on a broad range of international issues and welcomed
the progress towards the resolution of protracted regional disputes
and conflicts. They agreed that these developments had enhanced
the prospects for disarmament, security, peace and progress
for all peoples of the world. They appreciated the important
role played by the United Nations in bringing about these positive
changes in the international political environment. They also
called upon all States to strengthen the capacity of the UN
system in all respects to achieve the purpose of the UN Charter.
21. The Heads of State or Government reiterated their deep
commitment to the principles and objectives of the Non-aligned
Movement as an important force for strengthening world peace
and harmony as well as for promoting development with justice
and equity. In this context they expressed satisfaction over
the results of the Ministerial Conference of the Non-aligned
Movement held in Cyprus in September 1988 and expressed the
hope the decisions of the Conference would contribute to the
reduction of tensions and to the promotion of development. They
hoped that the current discussions on the improvement in the
methodology of the Non-Aligned Movement would result in strengthening
the movement and enable it to play its role with greater effectiveness.
22. The Heads of State or Government believed that the escalation
in military expenditure was a major constraint on world development.
In this regard they noted that the UN Conference on Disarmament
and Development had clearly established a link between disarmament
and development and had provided a valuable framework for future
action in this vital area. They urged that resources saved through
disarmament measures should be diverted in particular to developing
countries for development.
23. They welcomed the agreement between the United States and
the Soviet Union on Intermediate Nuclear Force. They hoped this
would be a precursor to further accords to reduce strategic
nuclear arsenals drastically and to prevent an arms race in
Outer Space. They called for the early conclusion in the Geneva
Conference on Disarmament of a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty
and a Convention to Ban Chemical Weapons. They declared their
intention to continue their efforts to contribute to the realization
of the objective of halting the nuclear arms race and eliminating
nuclear weapons. They declared their resolve to support every
effort to conclude a treaty prohibiting vertical and horizontal
proliferation of nuclear weapons.
24. The Heads of State or Government noted with deep concern
the continued structural disequilibrium from which the world
economy had long suffered. This had resulted in slower growth
in the developing countries, downward trends in commodity prices,
decline in the net export earnings of the developing countries
and deterioration in their terms of trade. These developments
combined with the overwhelming debt burdens, the reverse financial
flows from the developing to the developed countries and the
sharp rise of protectionism in the developed world had further
aggravated the economic difficulties of the developing countries.
25. The Heads of State or Government emphasised the interdependent
character of the economies of the developed and the developing
countries. They called for the resumption of the North-South
dialogue with a view to restructuring the international economic
system and to establishing the New International Economic Order
based on justice and equity. They called for coordinated actions
by the developed and the developing counties to increase the
net flow of developmental assistance, overcome debt difficulties,
expand the access of the developing countries to the markets
in developed countries, arrest the deterioration in terms of
trade of the developing countries and stabilize commodity prices.
26. The Heads of State or Government reiterated the need for
preserving and liberalizing the multilateral trading system
with renewed efforts both within and outside the Uruguay Round
of Multilateral Trade Negotiations. They also underscored the
importance of the developed countries fully respecting and implementing
the commitments made in Punta del Este on "standstill and
rollback" arrangements. They expressed concern that on
account of differences between major trading entities on the
question of agricultural subsidies, the Montreal Meeting on
the midterm review of the Uruguay round was inconclusive. They
particularly regretted that there was no progress in the negotiations
on issues of major interest to developing countries such as
trade in textiles and a Safeguard System. They were disappointed
that on some of the issues of interest to developing countries
on which there was agreement, particularly tropical products,
it would not be possible even to implement the decisions taken,
from the beginning of 1989 as envisaged. They emphasised that
the development dimension must be taken into account in the
negotiations on new issues, particularly services and intellectual
property rights. They agreed to take concerted action to this
end in the forthcoming negotiations.
27. The Heads of State or Government fully supported the call
for the initiation of a comprehensive process for the preparation
of an International Development Strategy for the Fourth United
Nations Development Decade as well as the proposal of the Group
of 77 for convening a Special Session of the General Assembly
in 1990 to revive growth and development in the developing countries.
28. The Heads of State or Government reemphasized the need
for increased resource flows and special measures in favour
of the least developed countries within the Framework of the
Substantial New Programme of Action (SNPA) for these countries.
They supported the convening of a high level United Nations
Conference on the least developed countries in 1990 to review
progress and formulate national and international policies and
measures for accelerating the development process in the least
developed countries during the 1990s, especially in order to
help them achieve their long term socio-economic objectives.
29. The Heads of State or Government of Bangladesh, Bhutan,
India, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka expressed their deep appreciation
for the exemplary manner in which Prime Minister of Pakistan
chaired the meeting. They expressed their profound gratitude
for the excellent arrangements made for the meeting and for
the warm and generous hospitality extended to them by the Government
and the people of Pakistan.
1.The President of Bangladesh, the King of
Bhutan, the Prime Minister of India, the President of Maldives,
the King of Nepal, the Prime Minister of Pakistan and the President
of Sri Lanka met at the Fourth Summit of the South Asian Association
for Regional Cooperation at Islamabad from 29-31 December, 1988.
The meeting was marked by an atmosphere of mutual understanding
and spirit of accommodation.
2. The Heads of State or Government reaffirmed their commitment
to the principles and objectives of the Association enshrined
in the SAARC Charter and renewed their determination to work
collectively towards the attainment of these objectives. They
issued the Islamabad Declaration.
3. The Heads of State or Government were deeply shocked at
the armed attack on the Republic of Maldives on 3rd November,
1988 aimed at destabilising the Government and taking over the
country. They strongly condemned these acts of violence which
disrupted the peace and security of a Member State. They expressed
full solidarity with the Government of Maldives.
4. The Heads of State or Government expressed concern at the
high incidence of drug production, trafficking and abuse. They
decided to declare 1989 as the "SAARC Year Against Drug
Abuse" in order to focus attention on drug-related problems
facing the region. They called upon Members States to prepare
and implement national programmes in this regard.
5. They welcomed the launching of SAARC Chairs, Fellowships
and Scholarships schemes and the Youth Volunteers programme.
They recognised that Education was one of the principal areas
requiring urgent attention in the region and decided to include
Education among the agreed areas of cooperation. For this purpose
they decided to set up a Technical Committee and accepted the
offer of Bangladesh to chair the Committee.
6. The Heads of State or Government agreed to launch "SAARC-2000-A
Basic Needs Perspective" which calls for a perspective
regional plan with specific targets to be met by the end of
the century in areas of core interest such as food, clothing,
shelter, education, primary health care, population planning
and environmental protection. In this context they welcomed
the offer of the Government of Pakistan to host a Centre for
Human Resource Development and directed the Secretary-General
to convene an Expert Group Meeting of member countries to work
out modalities for the realization of "SAARC 2000 - A Basic
Needs Perspective".
7. The Heads of State or Government welcomed the idea of holding
South Asian Festivals from time to time and accepted the offer
of India to host the first such festival.
8. The Heads of State or Government directed the Standing Committee
to examine the desirability of establishing a regional body
to promote cultural links among Member States.
9. They welcomed the coming into force of the SAARC Regional
Convention on Suppression of Terrorism. They stressed the importance
of the adoption of enabling measures at the national level that
would be necessary in order to fully implement the provisions
of the Convention.
10. They welcomed the Agreement regarding the establishment
of a South Asian Food Security Reserve in August this year which
marked a major breakthrough in the common endeavours of the
Governments of member countries of SAARC to assist each other
in food emergency situations.
11. The Heads of State or Government expressed their satisfaction
at the progress achieved in the implementation of the Integrated
Programme of Action (IPA). They recognised the need for focusing
attention on more concrete and result-oriented activities within
the SAARC framework.
12. They welcomed the establishment of the SAARC Agriculture
Information Centre (SAIC) at Dhaka and were of the view that
proposals for the setting up of regional institutions, focusing
on problems of common concern in the region, should be given
priority.
13. They reiterated their earlier commitment to accord priority
to the needs of children in national development plans. They
decided to declare 1990 as the "SAARC Year of the Girl
Child" and directed that specific programmes and activities
be undertaken to increase public awareness of the problems of
the girl child.
14. They expressed satisfaction at the progress in the studies
underway regarding the feasibility of cooperation in areas of
trade, manufactures and services. In the meanwhile they directed
the Secretary-General to convene a special meeting of the Group
of Coordinators to identify any specific areas where cooperation
may be feasible immediately. They directed that the report of
the Group should be presented to the next sessions of the Standing
Committee and the Council of Ministers.
15. The Heads of State or Government expressed profound sorrow
at the natural disasters suffered by Bangladesh, Nepal, India
and Pakistan in 1988 and urged that the study on the Causes
and Consequences of Natural Disasters and the Protection and
Preservation of the Environment be completed in the shortest
period of time so as to provide a rational basis for identifying
areas keeping in view the potentials and possibilities of evolving
a regional plan of action, particularly to strengthen disaster
management capabilities and to protect and preserve the environment.
16. They expressed satisfaction at the concrete steps being
taken for the implementation of the SAARC Audio Visual Exchange
(SAVE) Programme. They directed that social, economic and technical
themes should be given emphasis by the SAVE Programme.
17. Recalling the usefulness of the earlier Ministerial meeting
on Women in Development held in India in 1986, the Heads of
State or Government called for the holding of a second Ministerial
level meeting and welcomed the offer of the Government of Pakistan
to host the meeting.
18. They expressed satisfaction that pursuant to the direction
given by the Kathmandu Declaration for enhancing people-to -people
contact, concrete steps had been taken by including regional
NGOs and professional bodies in SAARC activities.
19. They decided that any country in the region subscribing
to the objectives and principles of the Charter may be admitted
as a member of the Association by a unanimous decision of the
Heads of State or Government.
20. The Heads of State or Government noted with satisfaction
the effective functioning of the SAARC Secretariat and its role
in coordinating SAARC activities. They appreciated the work
of the SAARC Secretary-General in the discharge of his responsibilities
and thanked His Majesty's Government of Nepal for the assistance
and cooperation extended to the Secretariat.
21. The Heads of State or Government gratefully accepted the
offer of the Government of Sri Lanka to host the Fifth SAARC
Summit in Colombo in 1989.
22. The Heads of State or Government expressed their deep appreciation
for the outstanding manner in which the Prime Minister of Pakistan
had conducted the meetings as the Chairperson of the Fourth
SAARC Summit. They also expressed profound gratitude for the
gracious hospitality extended to them by the Government and
people of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and for the excellent
arrangements made for the Conference.