Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Boycott SAARC Summit

September 28, 2016 10:21
Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Boycott SAARC Summit

The Indian Government Announced on Wednesday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not be attending the 19th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Summit , which is going to take place in Islamabad in November this year.

The India’s Ministry of External Affairs released a statement in which India blamed  Pakistan for "cross-border terror attacks"  which creates an environment that is "not conducive" to the meeting of all the eight nations.

“India remains steadfast in its commitment to regional cooperation, connectivity, and contacts but believes that this can only go on in an environment free of terror. In the prevailing circumstances, Government of India is unable to attend this proposed summit. We believe that some other Saarc members will also not attend,” said the statement.

Sources said that "three other countries - Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Bhutan - have also signaled that they will not attend the meeting, virtually ensuring that the session will have to be relocated. Today's move is so far the biggest in India's global campaign to isolate Pakistan after four terrorists crossed the border into Kashmir and attacked an army base in Uri. 18 soldiers were killed."

The Prime Minister expressed his desire to suspend the Indus Water Treaty,along with some other members of SAARC.

The Indian Government announced this soon after the slogans of ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ were heard loud and clear in demonstrations and rallies across the Indian Held Kashmir (IHK), where Pakistani flags are regularly raised together with coffins of Kashmiris, killed by Indians, wrapped in green and white. PM Modi said, "blood and water can't flow together."

PM Modi not Attend SAARC Summit
Sources added that "India will now utilize much more of its share of water, which will eat into the surplus that Pakistan had been availing."

Pakistan's Sartaj Aziz, who functions as Foreign Minister, said today that "if India pulls out of the treaty, it will amount to "an act of war".

Pakistan said "though it has not received any official communication, the Indian announcement was unfortunate. As for the excuse used by India, the world knows that it is India that has been perpetrating and financing terrorism in Pakistan. It is India which has violated the international law and UN charter by interfering in the internal matters of a sovereign state, Pakistan."

Afghanistan's ambassador to India Dr. Shaida Mohammad Abdali told NDTV last week that "it was willing to consider a joint boycott of the SAARC or South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation summit along with India and other members. As thousands of residents of the Kashmir Valley clashed with security forces on a daily basis for over a month, Pakistan lionized Wani as a martyr and as a leader, and, according to India, funded and incited the unrest."

Spokesperson of Pakistan’s Foreign Affairs Ministry, Mohammed Nafees Zakaria Tweeted saying “Pakistan has noted from Indian spokesperson’s tweet on Indian announcement about their refusal to participate in the 19th Saarc Summit being hosted by Pakistan in Islamabad this November. While we have not received any official communication in this regard, the Indian announcement is unfortunate. Pakistan remains committed to peace and regional cooperation. We will continue to work to that end in the larger interest of people of this region.As for the excuse used byIndia, the world knows that it is India that has been preparing and financing terror in Pakistan. Public confessions by Kulbhushan Yadav, Indian intelligence agency RAW’s officer, is a living proof besides many other pieces of evidence. It is India that has violated the international law and the UN Charter by interfering in the internal matters of a sovereign state, Pakistan.”

Zakaria Tweet

Also Read: AP CM Visits Polavaram Project Site, Thanks PM Modi

BY M. DIVYA SRI

If you enjoyed this Post, Sign up for Newsletter

(And get daily dose of political, entertainment news straight to your inbox)

Rate This Article
(0 votes)
Tagged Under :
Meeting  Pakistan  India  Prime Minister  Government