SAARC countries should act unitedly against terror: PM

Warning that terrorism is a cancer which would "consume" all South Asian countries if not checked, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday sought united efforts to defeat the menace that has already taken a "huge toll" on the region.

"The scourge of terrorism has taken a huge toll on all our society. It is a cancer that if not checked will consume us all. I would like to believe that we collectively have the will and foresight to prevent such a disastrous outcome," Singh said.

The Prime Minister was adderssing the fifth conference of the Association of SAARC Speakers and Parliamentarians.

Calling for resolving the "differences" among the nations peacefully, he said the region will not be able to realise its full potential unless it develops a culture of solving the problems on its own.

"South Asia cannot realise its full potential unless and until we resolve our differences peacefully and develop the culture of solving our problems ourselves," he said adding "others cannot solve our problems".

Talking about trade and investment, he said India was committed to pursuing policies that benefit entire South Asia. "We must learn to speak in one voice," he said.