Islamabad Saarc summit set to be postponed

The 19th Saarc summit in Islamabad is set to be postponed, as Bangladesh and India are not going to attend it citing growing interference in the internal affairs of member states as well as the recent terror attack in India.

The summit is slated for November 9-10.

Diplomatic sources said other member states, including Afghanistan and Bhutan, have also conveyed their reservations to Nepal, the Saarc current chair, about attending the summit.

Sri Lanka too has signalled that it would not be participating, the sources added.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan foreign office reacted to the India's decision, calling it “unfortunate”.

As par the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) charter, the summit cannot be held without all the leaders (heads of the state/government) of its member states.

Contacted, diplomatic sources in Dhaka, New Delhi and Kathmandu said that Nepal, as the Saarc chair, will soon make an announcement about the summit's postponement, and fresh dates will be worked out after consultation.