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India's pullout from SAARC summit regrettable, says Pakistani FM spokesman

Xinhua, September 29, 2016 Adjust font size:

Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman Nafees Zakaria expressed regret for India's decision to pull out of the upcoming South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit scheduled to be held next month in Islamabad, according to local reports on Thursday.

"India's negative attitude has had a direct bearing on the welfare and betterment in this region, which is highly regrettable," said Zakaria in a statement posted on his official Twitter late Wednesday, adding that the SAARC is to uplift the socio-economic conditions of the people of South Asia.

The spokesperson also said earlier that India's pullout was "unfortunate" and emphasized that Pakistan remains committed to peace and regional cooperation, adding that the country will continue to work in the larger interests of the people of the region.

The Indian government on Tuesday conveyed to current SAARC chair Nepal that it will be absent from the 19th SAARC summit in Islamabad for increasing cross-border tensions in the region.

Bilateral ties between Pakistan and India are souring after an attack earlier in an Indian army camp in Uri in Indian-controlled Kashmir.

The Indian side blamed Pakistan for the attack and, therefore, mulled to suspend Indus water commission talks with Pakistan and to review the most favor status gave to its bitter neighbor.

"Indian intentions of creating hurdles yet again is visible from the actions and statements at the political level during the last two months coupled with coordinated media efforts," said Zakaria, adding that India is "desperate to divert the international community's attention from the atrocities and blatant human rights violation" by India.

Meanwhile, local media here quoted Sartaj Aziz, advisor to prime minister on foreign affairs, as saying on Wednesday that the SAARC summit is "postponed" due to India and some other member states' inability to participate in.

Meanwhile, Nepal urged all members of the SAARC to ensure the participation in the Islamabad summit.

The SAARC is a regional block founded in 1985 in South Asia comprising Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Endit