The External Affairs Ministry on Tuesday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not be attending the South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation, which will be held in Islamabad this November. It added that other countries had also expressed reservations about attending the meet. Sources told ANI that Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Bhutan will not be attending.
The ministry told the SAARC chairman in Nepal that one country has created an environment that is “not conducive” for the summit, PTI reported and that “in the prevailing circumstances” it will not participate. India also conveyed that the decision was made in the light of increasing cross-border terror attacks in the region, ANI reported.
The decision comes as India’s relations with Pakistan have worsened, following the militant attack on an Army camp in Uri, Kashmir, that left 18 soldiers dead. On Monday, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had come down heavily on Pakistan for its reported links with terror groups in its country, while on Tuesday, India held a meeting on the Indus Waters Treaty that it signed with the neighbouring country in 1960. Pakistan has also alleged of humans rights violations in Kashmir after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen leader Burhan Wani on July 8.
The Indian government has attempted to diplomatically isolate its neighbour after the attack in Uri. United States legislators have also introduced a Bill in their House of Representatives, seeking a terror tag for Pakistan. India believes Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed orchestrated the Uri Army base attack. Pakistan, however, refuted the accusation and asked for “actionable evidence” to prove it.
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