SAARC summit in Pakistan called off as India, Bhutan, Bangaldesh and Afghanistan opt out : Reports

A day after Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not be attending SAARC summit in Pakistan, a leading national daily on Wednesday reported that the summit, scheduled for November this year, will be cancelled. The Hindu quoted a senior diplomatic source in Kathmandu as saying.

“There is no question of holding the summit if four countries declare their unwillingness to participate. As the current SAARC Chair, Nepal has the responsibility of seeking a solution to such pre-summit disputes but under the current circumstances nothing much can be attempted. We will do the due formalities and will declare the summit of 2016 should be cancelled due to non-participation of member states,” said a Kathmandu-based diplomatic source.

“We wish that a diplomatic breakthrough could be found with a possible change of venue but no one can guarantee success of such steps as four countries have already declared their inability to attend the summit without seeking an alternate venue,” he said.

Earlier, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan had also decided to cancel their participation after India’s decision not to be a part of the SAARC summit in Islamabad.

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Earlier on Tuesday, Pakistan had said that they have not received and official communication in this regard and they got to know about the development through MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup's tweet. However, Pakistan has called India's decision to not to participate the SAARC summit is unfortunate.

"Pak has noted from Indian Spokesperson's tweet on Indian announcement about their refusal to participate in SAARC summit being hosted by us." Pakistan MoFA had said in a statement on Tuesday.

"We have not received any official communication in this regard, the Indian announcement is unfortunate: Pakistan MoFAPak remains committed to peace & regional coop'n. Will continue to work to that end in the larger interest of people of this region," it said.

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“In the prevailing circumstances, the Government of India is unable to participate in the proposed Summit in Islamabad,” MEA had said in a statement on Tuesday.

The development comes amid the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan in the wake of terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Uri, that had left 18 Indian soldiers martyred earlier this month.

"India conveyed to current SAARC Chair Nepal that increasing cross-border terrorist attacks in the region and growing interference in internal affairs of Member States by one country created environment that’s not conducive to successful holding of summit in Islamabad,” the statement added.

“India remains steadfast in commitment to regional cooperation, connectivity but believes that it can only go forward in atmosphere free of terror.” It said.

“We also understand that some other SAARC Member States have also conveyed their reservation about attending Islamabad Summit in Nov '16,” MEA said.