KATHMANDU, Sept. 27 (Nepal Foreign Affairs)–India has expressed its inability to attend the 19th SAARC Summit to be held in Islamabad on November 9-10, 2016.
In response to a question, the Official Spokesperson of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs stated on Tuesday ” 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.”
However, India said that it 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. We also understand that some other SAARC Member States have also conveyed their reservation about attending the Islamabad Summit in November 2016,” the ministry spokesperson said.