New Delhi: In another snub to Pakistan after Uri attack, PM Narendra Modi on Tuesday decided not to attend the SAARC Summit in Islamabad in November.
Now, India leading to its collapse with three more countries of eight-member grouping decided to pull out. Citing continuous cross border terrorism by Pakistan against India, the government tonight announced that “in the prevailing circumstances, the Government of India is unable to participate in the proposed Summit in Islamabad.”
According to sources, leaders of Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Bhutan have also decided not to attend the 19th SAARC summit to be hosted by Pakistan. The Summit now has to be cancelled as per the SAARC charter the summit can not be held even in the absence of one head of the government.
Announcing the decision Tuesday night, India said that “one country” has created an environment that is not conducive to the successful holding of the Summit. “India has conveyed to current SAARC Chair Nepal that increasing cross-border terrorist attacks in the region and growing interference in the internal affairs of Member States by one country have created an environment that is not conducive to the successful holding of the 19th SAARC Summit in Islamabad in November 2016,” External Affairs Ministry said in a statement.
“We also understand that some other SAARC Member States have also conveyed their reservation about attending the Islamabad Summit in November 2016,” it said. In its communication to Nepal, India has said it remains steadfast in its commitment to regional cooperation, connectivity and contacts but believes that these can only go forward in an atmosphere free of terror.
Earlier, India announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not attend the SAARC Summit in Islamabad amidst heightened tension between India and Pakistan. Announcing the decision in New Delhi, External Affairs Ministry said that “one country” has created an environment that is not conducive to the successful holding of the Summit. “In the prevailing circumstances, the Government of India is unable to participate in the proposed Summit in Islamabad,” it said.
Pakistan’s FO spokesperson said that “as for the excuse used by India, the world knows that it is India that has been perpetrating and financing terrorism in Pakistan.” “Public confession by Kulbhushan Yadav, Indian intelligence agency RAW’s officer, is a living proof besides many more other evidences. It is India which has violated the international law and UN Charter by interfering in the internal matters of a sovereign state, Pakistan,” he alleged.
India’s Decision To Not Attend SAARC Summit ‘Unfortunate’: Pakistan
Pakistan on Tuesday termed as “unfortunate” India’s decision to not attend the SAARC summit to be held here in November. A Foreign Office spokesman said that Pakistan has noted from Indian spokesperson’s tweet on Indian announcement about their refusal to participate in 19th SAARC Summit. “While we have not received any official communication in this regard, the Indian announcement is unfortunate,” the spokesman said in a late night statement. He said Pakistan remains committed to peace and regional cooperation.
