Heads of state of eight South Asian nations ended a two-day summit in Colombo Sunday by calling for the early conclusion of the proposed UN comprehensive convention on international terrorism.

The South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC) in its final declaration said they noted the progress made during recent rounds of negotiations on the proposed convention.

"They (the eight nations) reiterated their commitment to strengthen the legal regime against terrorism, including by undertaking to implement all international conventions relating to combating terrorism to which member states are parties," the declaration said.

Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa, ending the sessions as the new SAARC chairman, said the countries agreed on wider co- operation on a series of issues ranging from trade to co-operating on combating terrorism.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani, Maldives President Abdul Gayoom, Bangladesh Chief Advisor Fakhruddin Ahmed, Nepalese Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, Bhutan Prime Minister Jigme Thinley and Afghan President Hamid Karzai were in attendance.

The countries also during the sessions held negotiations to provide each other the widest measures of mutual assistance in criminal matters to ensure a greater sense of security within the region, the declaration said.

The countries also agreed on measures to ensure food security in the region. A long term and short term plan is to be drawn up to ensure the availability of food during natural disasters and world food crisis situations.

The summit opened on Saturday with bilateral meetings between the heads of state ending Sunday at noon at the parliamentary complex on the outskirts of the capital.

The bilateral talks between the Indian and Pakistani prime ministers held on Saturday night have been among those which have drawn attention.

The July 7 terrorist attack on the Indian embassy in the Afghan capital of Kabul and the ceasefire violations across the Line of Control in the disputed territory of Kashmir were issues discussed by the two leaders, The Sunday Times reported.

The meeting between the two leaders is the first since a new government was formed in Pakistan in March this year.

India's Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon told journalists that the Pakistani prime minister had assured him Pakistan would launch an investigation into the Kabul bombing.

"For the past four years we have been working to normalize relations with Pakistan, but recent events have cast a shadow. However, there is determination on both sides to move forward beyond the recent incidents and work towards a return to the track," Menon said.

Meanwhile Pakistani Premier Gilani told journalists he was scheduled to take up the issue of the Indian embassy bombing with Afghan President Karzai on Sunday.

Most of the leaders of the eight nations emphasized the need to combat terrorism in the region at the opening sessions.

The Sri Lankan capital was placed under tight security cover for the summit with more than 20,000 police and soldiers deployed. Tamil rebels declared an unilateral truce from July 26 to August 4, but the government rejected the truce.