DHAKA: Taking a major step, India on Tuesday (September 27) pulled out of the SAARC summit to be held in November in Islamabad.

India external affairs ministry issued a statement, saying, “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 statement said, reports NDTV.

Government sources say that three other countries Afghanistan, Bhutan and Bangladesh have also pulled out from the summit.

Afghanistan’s ambassador to India had told NDTV last week that it was willing to consider a joint boycott of the summit along with India and other SAARC members.

This now means the summit cannot take place.

BDST: 2207 HRS, SEP 27, 2016
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