Diplomacyindia.com

Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan join India in boycotting Islamabad Saarc Summit

Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan join India in boycotting Islamabad Saarc Summit
September 28
08:06 2016

New Delhi, Sep 28  Following the diplomatic blitzkrieg launched by New Delhi, Pakistan is virtually getting isolated in the region with Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Bhutan joining India in boycotting the annual Saarc Summit scheduled to be hosted by Islamabad in November.

“Due to increased level of violence and fighting as a result of imposed terrorism on Afghanistan, President of Afghanistan Mohammad Ashraf Ghani with his responsibilities as the Commander in Chief will be fully engaged, and will not be able to attend the summit,” sources quoted Kabul as saying in a message to Saarc chair Nepal on Tuesday.

In a similar message to Nepal, Bangladesh on Tuesday said: “The growing interference in the internal affairs of Bangladesh by one country has created an environment which is not conducive to the successful hosting of the 19th Saarc (South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation) Summit in Islamabad in November 2016.”

“Bangladesh, as the initiator of the Saarc process, remains steadfast in its commitment to regional cooperation, connectivity and contacts but believes that these can only go forward in a more congenial atmosphere,” the message said.

“In view of the above, Bangladesh is unable to participate in the proposed summit in Islamabad.”

In its message to Nepal, Bhutan, while reaffirming its strong commitment to the Saarc process and strengthening of regional cooperation, noted that “the concern of the Royal Government of Bhutan on the recent escalation of terrorism in the region, which has seriously compromised the environment for the successful holding of the 19th SAARC Summit in Islamabad in November 2016”, it is learned.

“Further, the Royal Government of Bhutan shares the concerns of some of the member countries of Saarc on the deterioration of regional peace and security due to terrorism and joins them in conveying our inability to participate in the Saarc Summit, under the current circumstances,” the message from Thimpu on Tuesday said.

Sri Lanka, it is learned, has said that the event would not be possible without India’s participation.

India on Tuesday announced that it was pulling out of the Islamabad summit after the September 18 cross-border terror attack on an Indian Army base in Uri town of Jammu and Kashmir that claimed the lives of 18 soldiers.

The attack came amid large-scale violence in Kashmir Valley that left around 90 people dead in the wake of the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani on July 8.

In a statement on Tuesday, India said increasing cross-border terrorist attacks in the region and growing interference in the internal affairs of Saarc member-states “by one country” have created an environment that was not conducive to the successful holding of the 19th Saarc summit.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup said that India has conveyed to current Saarc chair Nepal its decision not to attend the summit, for which Prime Minister Narendra Modi was scheduled to go.

“India 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.

“In the prevailing circumstances, the Government of India is unable to participate in the proposed summit in Islamabad,” he said in the statement.

Pakistan has termed the boycott decision as “unfortunate”.

The US has also said that it was pressurising Pakistan to act against terror safe havens within its borders.

“Well, I mean, clearly we’ve talked about that before is, while we’ve seen Pakistan make progress on some of the terrorist groups operating within its own borders and carrying out attacks within Pakistan’s borders, that we continue to put pressure on Pakistan to respond to those groups who are, quote/unquote, ‘seeking safe haven on Pakistan’s borders’, that – who are intent on carrying out attacks elsewhere in the region,” US State Department deputy spokesperson Mark Toner said in the daily press briefing in Washington on Tuesday.

The US is one of the nine observer members of Saarc, the others being Australia, China, the European Union, Iran, Japan, Mauritius, Myanmar and South Korea.

New Delhi has blamed the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed terror outfit for the Uri as well as January 2 Pathankot air base attack.

On Tuesday, Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar summoned Pakistani High Commissioner Abdul Basit and made a demarche that proved Islamabad’s links to the attack.

Prime Minister Modi has said that India would revisit the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty that calls for sharing of the waters of the six rivers of the Indus basin with Pakistan while indicating that the most favoured nation (MFN) trade status granted to the neighbour in 1996 might be revoked.

About Author

admin

admin

Related Articles

Dr Meena Singh Roy speaking on Uzbekistan Constitutional Reform Referendum 2023

On the Eve of 30th Years of Independence of Republic of Uzbekistan, H.E. Dilshod Akhatov, Ambassador of Uzbekistan to India in conversation with Ameya Sathaye, Editor-in-Chief.

Denmark Ambassador to India Freddy Svane in conversation with Amb Pradeep Kapur & Ameya Sathaye, Editor-in-Chief

Italy india will work closely together for G20 : Italy Envoy to India

Do you know why FINLAND is ranked number ONE in Happiness index, watch this interview with Finland Ambassador to India

Exclusive Interview : H.E. Jasem Ibrahem Al Najem Ambassador of Kuwait to India speaks on India Kuwait bilateral relations

ड्रैगन ने हाथी को क्यों डसा, भारत- चीन रिश्तों की कहानी- रंजीत कुमार के साथ अमेय साठे की विषेष चर्चा ड्रैगन ने हाथी को क्यों डसा, भारत- चीन रिश्तों की कहानी- रंजीत कुमार के साथ अमेय साठे की विषेष चर्चा 0 comment Read Full Article

H.E. Reuben Gauci, Ambassador of Malta to India speaks on India-Malta Bilateral Relations

Portugal supports India in covid crisis : Portugal Ambassador Carlos Pereira Marques speaks with Ameya Sathaye, Editor-in-Chief

Vietnam Ambassador to India, Pham Sanh Chau speaks on Vietnam support to India in tackling covid crisis

Netherlands supports India in covid crisis : Netherlands Ambassador Marten van den Berg speaks with Ameya Sathaye

Envoy Speaks : Gopal Baglay, Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka speaks on Bilateral relations, business opportunities, Tourism & people to people to people contacts

Kuwait reciprocates, we stand with India in this hour of crisis : Kuwait Ambassador to India

Canadian High Commissioner, Nadir Patel speaking on support to India in covid crisis

Italian Ambassador to India, Vincenzo de Luca speaking on Italy support to India in covid crisis

H.E. Mr. Reuben Gauci, Malta High Commissioner to India speaks with Ameya Sathaye, Editor-in-Chief of Malta support to India in covid crisis

Danish Ambassador to India Freddy Svane speaking on Denmark aid to India

Video Interview with Vinod Daniel, CEO, India Vision Institute, Board Member, International Council of Museums & Chairman, Ausheritage

DENMARK AMBASSADOR FREDDY SAVNE VISIT TO CORONOVIRUS VACCINE FACILITY AT HYDERABAD, A TRIP ORGANISED BY MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, GOVT OF INDIA FOR FOREIGN ENVOYS BASED IN INDIA.

MALTA HIGH COMMISSIONER TO INDIA, H.E. REUBEN GAUCI SHARING HIS IMPRESSION ABOUT HIS VISIT TO HYDERABAD : TRIP ORGANISED BY MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA FOR ENVOYS BASED IN INDIA TO UPDATE ON CORONAVIRUS VACCINE

H.E. Mr. Dinesh Bhatia, Ambassador of India to Argentina in conversation with Ameya Sathaye, Editor-in-Chief

Pictures of Formal Launch of Website Diplomacyindia.com

Exclusive Interview with Prime Minister of Guyana, H.E. Mr. Moses Veerasammy Nagamootoo during his recent visit to India.Highlights of the interview were Indian Cultural Connect, Vibrant Bilateral Ties and Cultural Connect and India’s Economic Prowess.

Video Message from Shri Prakash Javadekar, MoS (IC) for Forest, Environment & Climate Change on eve of Formal Launch of Website Diplomacyindia.com

Message from Gen. V K Singh, (Retd.) Hon’ble MoS, External Affairs to Diplomacyindia.com