19th SAARC summit

19th SAARC summit
Follows 18th SAARC summit
Precedes 20th SAARC summit
Website Saarc

The 19th SAARC summit is a diplomatic conference, which was originally scheduled to be held in Islamabad, Pakistan on 15–16 November 2016.[1] The summit was to be attended by the leaders of the eight SAARC member states and representatives of observers and guest states.

Following the rising diplomatic tensions after the Uri terrorist attack, India announced its boycott of the 19th SAARC Summit, alleging Pakistan's involvement in the same. Later, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Bhutan and Sri Lanka also pulled out of the summit.[2] culminating in an indefinite postponement of the summit.

Background

Following the 2016 Uri terror attack, India cancelled its participation in the 19th SAARC summit, alleging Pakistan's involvement in the terror attack.[3][4]

Reactions by member nations

Bangladesh also pulled out of the summit in Islamabad. The Bangladeshi Foreign Ministry conveyed to the SAARC Chair Nepal that Pakistan's increasing interference in Bangladesh's domestic affairs is inimical to the interest of Bangladesh and under such circumstances it is not possible to participate in the summit at Islamabad.[5] The ministry maintained that "Bangladesh, as the initiator of the SAARC process, remains steadfast in its commitment to regional cooperation, connectivity and contacts but believes that these can only go forward in a more congenial atmosphere".[6]

Afghanistan announced its withdrawal from the summit, stating, "Due to increased level of violence and fighting as a result of imposed terrorism on Afghanistan, (President) Ashraf Ghani with his responsibilities as the Commander-in-Chief will be fully engaged, and will not be able to attend the Summit."[7]

Bhutan also withdrew from the summit. The country stated that the "recent escalation of terrorism in the region has seriously compromised the environment for the successful holding" of the summit. The Bhutanese government added that it also shared the concerns of some member states on the "deterioration of regional peace because of terror".[2][7]

Sri Lanka too, decided to pull out of SAARC Summit, becoming the fifth country to pull out, citing the non-conductive situation in Islamabad. The island nation on September 30, 2016, said in a statement, "Sri Lanka condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and stresses in this regard, the need to deal with the issue of terrorism in the region in a decisive manner".[8]

Nepal, the current chair of SAARC, urged that "a conducive environment be created soon to ensure the participation of all member states in the 19th SAARC summit in line with the spirit of the SAARC charter".[9] It also asked the member countries- "to ensure that their respective territories are not used by terrorists for cross border terrorism".[10]

The Maldives refrained from boycotting and instead urged a conductive environment be created for the summit.[11]

Pakistan has postponed the conference to a further date, citing Article X (General Provisions) of the SAARC Charter that all decisions at all levels shall be taken on the basis of unanimity.[12] Thus, the conference can only go ahead with all member states present.[13][14][15]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Pakistan to host 19th SAARC Summit in Islamabad". Daily Times (Pakistan). Associated Press of Pakistan. 26 November 2014. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
  2. 1 2 "Pak isolated after India, 3 other countries pull out of SAARC summit - Rediff.com India News". Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  3. ↑ "PM Narendra Modi Will Not Attend SAARC Summit In Pakistan". Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  4. ↑ 3 Days After Uri Attack, India Hands Pakistan Envoy Evidence And A Warning, NDTV News, 21 September 2016.
  5. ↑ "After India, Bangladesh pulls out of SAARC summit in Islamabad". 27 September 2016. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  6. ↑ Bhattacherjee, Kallol (28 September 2016). "SAARC summit to be cancelled". Retrieved 29 September 2016 – via The Hindu.
  7. 1 2 "Saarc summit collapses after India and three other members pull out". Hindustan Times. 28 September 2016. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  8. ↑ http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=2016/09/30/local/94570
  9. ↑ "Create conducive environment for participation of all member states in Saarc summit: Nepal". The Times of India. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  10. ↑ "SAARC member states should ensure no-cross border terrorism: Nepal". 2016-10-02. Retrieved 2016-10-03.
  11. ↑ http://www.business-standard.com/article/international/maldives-asks-saarc-nations-to-create-conducive-environment-116100100060_1.html
  12. ↑ http://www.wipo.int/edocs/trtdocs/en/saarc/trt_saarc.pdf
  13. ↑ http://www.voanews.com/a/pakistan-says-saarc-summit-postponed/3532330.html
  14. ↑ Bhattacherjee, Kallol (28 September 2016). "SAARC summit to be cancelled". The Hindu. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  15. ↑ "SAARC conference in Pakistan postponed". Retrieved 29 September 2016.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/5/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.