Pact on counter-terrorism likely

BIMSTEC Summit opens today in New Delhi; possibility of free trade agreement discussed — Photo: Rajeev Bhatt ENHANCING TIES: External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee (fourth left) with his counterparts (from left) Nepal’s Upendra Yadav, Bhutan’s Khandu Wangchuk, Sri Lanka’s Rohitha Bogollagama, Myanmar’sâNyan Win, Bangladesh’s Iftekhar Ahmed Choudhury and Thailand’s Sukhumpong Ngonkam prior to their meeting in New Delhi on Wednesday. NEW DELHI: Foreign Ministers of seven Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) countries held a brainstorming session on Wednesday to intensify economic ties and encourage the movement of people and resources. They also explored the possibility of a free trade agreement (FTA) ahead of the summit meeting here on Thursday which is being held after... [read full story]