NEW DELHI/DHAKA — In a major setback for Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan on Wednesday pulled out of a key regional summit to be held in Pakistan, a day after India said it was boycotting the event over a deadly cross-border attack on a military base.
Bangladesh said it was unable to participate in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit. because of “growing interference in internal affairs of Bangladesh by one country.”
Media reports said that Bangladesh foreign ministry wrote to the current SAARC chair Nepal about the growing interference from Pakistan.
“Growing interference in internal affairs of Bangladesh by one country has created environment not conducive to the successful hosting of the 19th SAARC Summit in Islamabad in November 2016,” a media report quoted sources from Bangladesh as saying.
“Bangladesh remains steadfast in its commitment to regional co-operation but believes this can only go forward in a more congenial atmosphere. In view of the above, Bangladesh is unable to participate in the proposed Summit in Islamabad,” the agency further quoted sources as saying.
On Wednesday junior Bangladesh foreign minister, Shahriar Alam, confirmed to AFP by text message that Bangladesh would not attend the summit.
Bhutan made a similar statement and said that it “expresses concern over recent escalation of terrorism in the region, which seriously compromises the environment for successful holding of the 19th SAARC Summit in Islamabad in November 2016,” according to media reports.
According to media reports in India, Afghanistan cited similar reasons for pulling out of the summit.
Relations between the nuclear-armed neighbors have deteriorated sharply since a deadly attack on a military base in disputed Kashmir that New Delhi blamed on militants from across the border.
Pakistan denies any involvement in the attack, in which 18 Indian soldiers died.
Announcing the decision on Tuesday night, India said that “one country” has created an environment that is not conducive to the successful holding of the summit.
“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,” the External Affairs Ministry had said in a statement.
“In the prevailing circumstances, the Government of India is unable to participate in the proposed Summit in Islamabad,” it had said, adding, “We also understand that some other Saarc member states have also conveyed their reservation about attending the Islamabad Summit in November 2016.”
Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had termed India’s announcement “unfortunate” and had stated that Pakistan remains committed to peace and regional cooperation and will continue to work to that end in the larger interest of people of the South Asian region.
In further embarrassment for Pakistan, Nepal, which currently chairs the SAARC, has sought a new new venue for the annual summit in November after a number of members have decided to boycott the meeting in Islamabad.
As chair of the SAARC, Nepal has asked for the forthcoming summit to be moved out of Pakistan in a bid to salvage the 19th summit. No summit is held even if one nation does not show up.
In a high-level meeting called by Nepal Prime Minister Prachanda in Kathmandu, it has been decided that an attempt will be made to reach out to other countries to ensure that the SAARC project can be salvaged. — Agencies
