This Article is From Sep 28, 2016

SAARC Summit: Day After Boycott, Pak Insists It Will Go Ahead With Event

SAARC Summit: Day After Boycott, Pak Insists It Will Go Ahead With Event

India pulled out of the SAARC summit yesterday over 'cross-border attacks'

Islamabad: A day after India and three other member nations decided to boycott SAARC summit in Islamabad, Pakistan today insisted that it will go ahead and host the event in November.

Foreign Office Spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said Pakistan will host the 19th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation summit in November, Radio Pakistan reported today.

Mr Zakaria was quoted as saying that it was learnt from the Indian External Affairs Ministry's tweet that India is not going to participate in the SAARC Summit, a decision he called "unfortunate".

"While we have not received any official communication in this regard, the Indian announcement is unfortunate," he said.

The spokesperson also said Pakistan is committed to regional peace and will continue working for the broader interest of the people of the region, according to the report.

Besides India, three other SAARC members - Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan - have pulled out of the summit, indirectly blaming Pakistan for creating an environment which is not right for the successful holding of the meet.

 
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