DHAKA, Nov 13: The South Asian leaders on Sunday agreed to accept Afghanistan as a member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc). Besides, they resolved to accept China and Japan in the Saarc as observers.

Bangladesh’s prime minister, Khaleda Zia, now the chairperson of the Saarc, said: “I am happy to announce that Saarc leaders have admitted Afghanistan as a full member of the organization, subject to completion of formalities.” “The heads of state and government welcomed the request by the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan for membership and invited Afghanistan as a member, subject to the competition of formalities,” said the Dhaka Declaration of the 13th Saarc Summit adopted on Sunday after the conclusion of the two-day summit.

India’s prime minister, Manmohan Singh, said while addressing the concluding ceremony: “We’re delighted to welcome Afghanistan to our group. This is an appropriate recognition of the long-standing ties of culture and history that Afghanistan shares with us.

“We have also noted the interest of the People’s Republic of China and Japan to become Observers in Saarc, and we’re happy to note that the Saarc Council of Ministers will finalize the guidelines and modalities for such status at the earliest.”