SAARC summit postponed after India, allies pull out

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PakistanToday
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  • PM’s advisor on foreign affairs says Pakistan to host SAARC summit whenever it is held
  • Bangladesh blames Pakistan of ‘interfering’ in its affairs

Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz on Wednesday confirmed that a three-day key regional summit had been postponed indefinitely, shortly after India and three other countries pulled out of the conference.

Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Bhutan have pulled out of the SAARC summit which was scheduled to be held in Pakistan from November 9 to 11, a day after India announced to boycott the summit over an attack on its military base in the Indian-occupied Kashmir.

“Whenever the SAARC conference is held, it will be hosted by Pakistan,” Aziz said. Islamabad said that Pakistan would not budge from its principled stance on the Kashmir dispute.

Without naming Pakistan, India’s foreign ministry said “increasing cross-border terrorist attacks in the region and growing interference in the internal affairs of member states by one country” had created an environment that was not conducive for a meeting.

Hours later, Bangladesh said it was also pulling out. Afghanistan and Bhutan — both close India allies — have since followed suit, according to a SAARC official who asked not to be named.

A junior Bangladeshi foreign minister, Shahriar Alam, confirmed that Bangladesh would not attend the SAARC summit. Indian media cited Dhaka as blaming “the growing interference in the internal affairs of Bangladesh by one country”, and said Bhutan and Afghanistan were also planning to withdraw.

The country was not named, but Bangladesh has in the past accused Pakistan of interference for protesting the execution of Islamist leaders found guilty of war crimes. “Pakistan has been interfering in our internal affairs for some time,” a senior Bangladesh foreign ministry official said on the condition of anonymity. “That’s why we have pulled out of the SAARC summit.”

South Asian analyst Ashok Malik said the pull-outs would have little practical impact on Pakistan but could push it closer to rival regional power China. “It basically scores a symbolic and a political victory. As for Pakistan, this will push it even closer to China,” said Delhi-based Observer Research Foundation’s regional studies initiative head Malik.

 

Read more: Bangladesh pulls out of Saarc summit in Islamabad amid India-Pakistan row

Responding to India’s move, Pakistan said it remained ‘committed to peace and regional cooperation’ and accused New Delhi of perpetrating ‘terrorism’ on its soil.

“As for the excuse used by India, the world knows that it is India that has been perpetrating and financing terrorism in Pakistan,” tweeted foreign ministry spokesman Nafees Zakariya late Tuesday, citing the capture of an Indian intelligence officer in Baluchistan earlier this year.

Pakistan has repeatedly accused India of interference in Balochistan province.

Under pressure to act after the Kashmir raid, Modi warned Pakistan in a major speech on Saturday that India would push to make it a pariah state. Pakistan denies any involvement in the attack, the worst of its kind in over a decade.

 

Read more: Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Bhutan join India in withdrawing from SAARC summit in Islamabad

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13 COMMENTS

      • First ask this Question to your Leader in Pakistan Mr. Ahmed….????

        If Pakistan has a good relationship & Sound Foreign Policy then, they can convince at least Muslim country like Bangladesh and Afghanistan( in the name of ISLAM/Allah) for not to quite SAARC Summit to be held at Islamabad.

        If Not……It means No ONE WANT TO VISIT PAKISTAN.(A terrorist Nation)

        You will Forget Your own Mother also.

        • We don't care about bangladesh and afghanistan buddy, as if they are worth something lol. They have been indian allies for some time now, so it was expected.

    • Next war will see J & K in its place where it should be but Pakistan will be wiped out from world map. Don't expect your grand father China would back you, its a communist country whom no one trust and their expansionist mentality would suck entire Pakistan which you people will understand slowly. Now start dreaming about Kashmir and keep it only in your dream,in reality it will never happen in the lifetime of entire Pakistan. I wonder how you people live life under the diktat of all free roaming terrorists in your country.

    • First ask this Question to your Leader in Pakistan who is creating Terror in World….. Mr. Ahmed….????
      Also follow US senate where more then 3 Lakhs votes given to declare Pakistan as a terrorist state.

      Hope u got Ur answer.

  5. If Pakistan has a good relationship & Sound Foreign Policy then, they can convince at least Muslim country like Bangladesh and Afghanistan( in the name of ISLAM/Allah) for not to quite SAARC Summit to be held at Islamabad.

    If Not……It means No ONE WANT TO VISIT PAKISTAN.(A terrorist Nation)

    A Shame Full Nation in the world.

    • When Millions of Indians get a roof over their heads instead of sleeping on pavements then you can call another country a shame full nation!

  6. All above comments from Dumb Indians, just remember in the last war your masters the US had their 5th Fleet in the Bay of Bengal to help you out.
    It will be a bit different this time, YOU FORGET Pakistan posses NUCLEAR WEAPONS!

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