Pakistan’s isolation in Pakistan is complete. Nepal, the current Saarc Chair, has formally announced the 19th summit’s postponement while asking member countries to ensure that their territories are not used by terrorists for cross-border terrorism.
“To achieve peace and stability in the region, Saarc member states must, among others, ensure that their respective territories are not used by terrorists for cross-border terrorism,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal said in a statement, and regretted that the regional environment is not conducive to hosting the 19th Saarc Summit scheduled for November 9-10 in Islamabad.
“Nepal will initiate necessary consultation on successfully holding the summit with participation of all member states,” the statement said, adding, “As the current chair of Saarc, Nepal underscores the need for creating a conducive regional environment for the Saarc Summit.”
Nepal’s formal announcement came in the wake of six Saarc member states expressing their unwillingness to take part in the summit citing almost identical reason of increasing cross-border terrorist attacks and growing interferences in the internal affairs of member states by one country.
“Nepal strongly believes that an environment of peace and stability is essential for a meaningful regional cooperation,” it said.
“Nepal unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and expresses its solidarity in the global fight against terrorism.
“Nepal has always condemned all acts of terrorism in our own region. Most recently, Nepal has condemned the terrorist attack on an Indian army base in Uri, Kashmir on September 18, 2016 that resulted in the loss of life of Indian soldiers.”
Diplomatic sources have said leaders from most of the Saarc countries will be in Goa, India for the outreach Summit of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (Bimstec).
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 16 will meet Bimstec leaders — Prime Ministers Sheikh Hasina, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay and Myanmar’s Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi.
According to media reports, India is considering inviting the leaders of Afghanistan and the Maldives, who are not Bimstec members, to the summit and thereby hold a Saarc-minus-one meeting in India.
If this happens, then it would be a clear signal to Pakistan that the neighbourhood is prepared to isolate it for supporting terrorism,