Pakistan Isolated: Islamabad-SAARC 2016 finally called off, says report

The next SAARC Summit, which was scheduled to be hosted by Pakistan in November, has been postponed after India pulled out of the event "in the prevailing circumstances", Nepalese media reported on Wednesday. "The 19th SAARC Summit has been postponed after India yesterday announced its inability to take part in it "in the prevailing circumstances"," the Kathmandu Post reported. Reports emanating from Nepalese media are significant as Nepal is the Chair of the eight-member grouping. India has already communicated its decision to Nepal. The summit is automatically postponed or cancelled even if one member country skips the event.

Tensions between India and Pakistan are growing after militants stormed an Indian Army base in Uri on September 18, killing 18 soldiers. Besides India, three other SAARC members - Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan - have pulled out of the summit, indirectly blaming Pakistan for "creating an environment which is not right for the successful holding" of the meet. Founded in 1985, South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) currently has Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka as its members. 

A Kathmandu-source told The Hindu: ““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. 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 Pakistan  said it will go ahead and host the event in November. Foreign Office Spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said Pakistan will host the 19th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation summit in November, Radio Pakistan reported today. Zakaria was quoted as saying that it was learnt from the Indian External Affairs Ministry's tweet that India is not going to participate in the SAARC Summit, a decision he called "unfortunate".

"While we have not received any official communication in this regard, the Indian announcement is unfortunate," he said. The spokesperson also said Pakistan is committed to regional peace and will continue working for the broader interest of the people of the region, according to the report.

Separately, Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said India is making propaganda to foil the conference that was scheduled to be held in November, according to Pakistan Today newspaper.

Besides India, three other SAARC members - Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan - have pulled out of the summit, indirectly blaming Pakistan for creating an environment which is not right for the successful holding of the meet.

Earlier, opting out of the SAARC summit, Bangladesh said that the environment was not conducive because of Pakistan's growing interference in its internal affairs.

“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," said Bangladesh Foreign Ministry in a communication sent to the SAARC Chair Nepal on September 27.

According to sources, the communication further said, "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 communication said.

Meanwhile, While reaffirming strong commitment to the SAARC process and strengthening of regional cooperation, Bhutan also conveyed its inability to participate to the SAARC chair over the escalation of terrorism in the region. "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,” said sources.

Afghanistan has also conveyed that it will not be attending the summit. Sources said that in a communication to SAARC Chair, Afghanistan said,“Due to increased level of violence and fighting as a result of imposed terrorism on Afghanistan, HE the 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.” Announcing its decision, India said on Tuesday night that 'one country' has created an environment that is not conducive to the successful holding of the Summit.

With inputs from agencies