They also suggested a slew of measures for energy cooperation, increased investment and efficient connectivity.

After two-days of deliberations on how relations among eight Saarc countries could be strengthened overcoming differences, the conference of 87 MPs organised by South Asia Free Media Association (SAFMA) welcomed the ongoing peace process between India and Pakistan.

An attempt was made to recommend that people of Jammu and Kashmir be involved as a third party in Indo-Pak talks over the state, triggering a verbal duel between parliamentarians of the two countries yesterday.

The Indian MPs strongly opposed this recommendation, saying Kashmir was a bilateral issue and at their insistence the reference was dropped from the Declaration.

A "consensus" was reached that the additional proposal on involvement of people of Jammu and Kashmir be dropped and the issue be treated as a bilateral one between India and Pakistan, said SAFMA Secretary General Imtiaz Alam at a joint press conference with its president K K Katyal.

The "Shimla Declaration" appreciated the "two-fold objectives" of the peace process, which comprises "exploration of all options for a final settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir question in an atmosphere free of violence and terrorism and normalisation of bilateral relations."

The conference urged all countries in the region to put in place a comprehensive sustainable dialogue mechanism for resolving all inter and intra state conflicts.

Asking the Saarc countries to implement the current protocol on cooperation against terrorism and bring it in line with international norm, it said member nations "should not offer shelter, arms and training to terrorists."

The declaration condemned terrorist attacks against innocent people "wherever they occur, whoever sponsor and on whatever pretext" and rejected "violence as a means by the parties to the conflict".

"We call upon both the people and governments of South Asian countries to join hands against the scourge of terrorism and violence on any pretext while addressing the genuine aspirations of the people and the causes giving birth to the dissatisfaction of the masses," it said.