SAARC Summit to be Postponed Since 4 Members Skipping Event: MEA

Prime Minister Narendra Modi pictured with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.(Photo: Reuters)

In an official statement, the Ministry of External Affairs announced on Wednesday that the SAARC Summit will be postponed, since four nations have decided to not attend the event in Islamabad.

The SAARC rule is very clear, if any one head of state or government decides not to participate in SAARC Summit, it has to be postponed.

MEA statement

The summit is automatically postponed or cancelled even if one member country skips the event.

Nepalese media too reported that the next SAARC Summit, which was scheduled to be hosted by Pakistan in November, has been postponed after India pulled out of the event “in the prevailing circumstances”.

Nepal is the Chair of the eight-member grouping.

Quoting diplomatic sources in Kathmandu, The Hindu reported that the SAARC summit will be cancelled following the decision of four countries to skip the summit.

After India announced its decision to skip the summit three other SAARC members –Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan – also pulled out of the summit, indirectly blaming Pakistan for “creating an environment which is not right for the successful holding” of the meet.

On Wednesday morning, Bangladesh reportedly announced that the country will not be attending the 19th SAARC Summit in Islamabad, amid “growing interference in internal affairs of Bangladesh by one country.”

It’s a setback. But Pakistan is a part of the region and has to contribute to regional harmony. After Uri, we believe the situation is not conducive to holding the summit

Syed Muazzem, Bangladesh High Commissioner to India

Afghanistan too informed SAARC chair Nepal that President Ashraf Ghani will not be attending, according to ANI sources.

Due to increased level of violence, fighting as result of imposed terrorism on Afghanistan, President of Afghanistan with his responsibilities as Commander in Chief will be engaged and will not be able to attend the SAARC Summit.  

These developments come a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi decided not to attend the SAARC summit.

Also Read: India to Boycott SAARC Summit in Islamabad, Confirms MEA

Citing continuous cross-border terrorism by Pakistan against India, the government announced that “in the prevailing circumstances, the Government of India is unable to participate in the proposed summit in Islamabad.”

According to sources, Bhutan also has expressed concern over the recent escalation of terrorism in the region, which “seriously compromises environment for successful holding” of the SAARC Summit.

“Bhutan shares concerns of some of SAARC countries on deterioration of regional peace and security due to terrorism, and joins other SAARC countries in conveying inability to participate in the summit, under the current circumstances,” sources told ANI.

(With inputs from ANI and PTI)