India on Tuesday formally conveyed to SAARC chair Nepal that India won't be participating in the proposed Summit in Islamabad.
A day after India decided to boycott the SAARC summit in protest against Uri terror attack, Centre's ally and Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti expressed dismay over the non-participation of the various leaders in the meeting scheduled to be held in Islamabad in November.
"It is unfortunate that while other countries are forging new economic ties, the SAARC countries are going in the reverse direction," Mehbooba said in a statement released by the J&K information department quoting her address at the launch of Pradhan Mantri Ujwala Yojana here on Wednesday..
On Tuesday, India formally conveyed to SAARC chair Nepal that the government of India is unable to participate in the proposed Summit in Islamabad.
"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. In the prevailing circumstances, the Government of India is unable to participate in the proposed Summit in Islamabad," the Ministry of External Affairs said in a press release.
Showing their support to India, three other SAARC countries --Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Bhutan—too hinted at boycotting the summit in Islamabad. Mehbooba however pitched for amicable relations between India and Pakistan to fight the poverty and economic deprivation plaguing the region while underlining the need of a bilateral dialogue to resolve the issues.
"The two nuclear armed neighbors must cooperate in the fields of social development, including eradication of poverty and with their growing economies and energy needs, and the need for newer, more diverse markets and trading opportunities, the future of the troubled region has to be defined by common economic interests instead of hostilities," she said.
Mehbooba noted that instead of fighting wars with each other, the two countries should join hands to eradicate poverty and to address social problems plaguing the region. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi went to Pakistan with this message on behalf of people of J&K but the Pathankote incident shattered that process," she said.
Reacting to the reports that the Centre is in the process of reviewing the Indus Water Treaty, Mehbooba said the agreement, while being beneficial to India and Pakistan, is not in the interest of Jammu and Kashmir. "However, if the two countries can mutually share the water resources, why not their other resources?" she asked
Under fire for mishandling the situation post Burhan Wani's killing, Mehbooba pleaded for another chance in a bid to restore peace in the restive valley.
"Give us a chance… I request you. Help us in restoring peace… Persuade your kids (not to pelt stones)", an embattled Mehbooba requested the gathering with folded hands.
More than 86 people have been killed and over 12000 others injured since the unrest began after the killing of Hizbul Mujhadeen leader Burhan Muzaffar Wani on July 8.
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