SAARC Summit postponed after boycott by 4 member countries

Islamabad, (Pakistan Point News – 29th September, 2016) : The 19th SAARC Summit scheduled to be held in Islamabad has been postponed after refusal of 4 member countries to attend the event. The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Summit was scheduled to be held in Islamabad on November 10.

According to Media reports, the Nepal government informed Pakistan’s Foreign Office on Wednesday that the summit will have to be postponed after refusal of India, Bhutan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh to attend the event.

India has boycotted the session due to ongoing tension with Pakistan on Kashmir dispute, while Bangladesh says it cannot attend the event as a country is interfering into its internal affairs. The SAARC is formed by 8 South Asian countries.

After refusal by four countries, only 4 countries, including Pakistan, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka were left in the meeting. Nepal was scheduled to preside over the SAARC Summit. The summit cannot be called in case of boycott of any member.