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SAARC Summit: More nations pull out of meet

by IBNS 28 Sep 2016, 08:49 am

New Delhi, Sept 28 (IBNS): A day after India decided not to participate in the upcoming 19th SAARC summit in Islamabad, Bangladesh and Bhutan also decided to pull out of the meet, media reports said on Wednesday.

Sources have told The Indian Express that Bangladesh on Tuesday wrote to the SAARC chair Nepal expressing their apprehension about the proposed summit in Islamabad.

“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 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. In view of the above, Bangladesh is unable to participate in the proposed summit in Islamabad,” the newspaper reported quoting the letter to Nepal.

In the wake of the Uri attack which left 18 Indian soldiers martyred, the Indian government on Tuesday said it will not participate in the upcoming SAARC Summit in Islamabad.

The MEA issued a statement on Tuesday which said: "In response to a question, the Official Spokesperson stated that 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."

"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," read the statement.

Explaining India's position the country said it will not participate in the summit.

"In the prevailing circumstances, the Government of India is unable to participate in the proposed Summit in Islamabad," read the statement.

"We also understand that some other SAARC Member States have also conveyed their reservation about attending the Islamabad Summit in November 2016,"the statement said.

India witnessed a major militant attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Uri town on Sept 18 which left 18 soldiers martyred.

India has also launched a campaign against Pakistan at the United Nations' platforms for aiding and abetting terrorism.