New Delhi (UNI): India on Thursday rebuffed Pakistan’s offer to allow New Delhi to attend the SAARC summit virtually, saying there has been “no material change in the situation” since the last summit in 2014, and therefore “there is still no consensus” that would permit holding of a summit.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, addressing a media briefing, said: “We have seen media reports regarding the Pakistani Foreign Minister’s remarks about the SAARC summit.
“You are aware of the background as to why the SAARC summit has not been held since 2014. There has been no material change in the situation since then, and therefore there is still no consensus that would permit the holding of the summit.”
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi had on Monday said Pakistan was ready to hold the 19th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit and that India can attend the meet virtually if it does not wish to participate in person.
Addressing a briefing in Islamabad, Qureshi said: “Because of India’s obstinacy, this forum is suffering. If India does not want to come then new means are available. I reiterate our invitation to all SAARC members, and Pakistan is willing to host the 19th SAARC Summit in Islamabad. If India doesn’t want to come, they can attend virtually.”
The SAARC operates on the principle of consensus and a summit cannot be held if even one member decides not to attend.
The last SAARC Summit was scheduled to be held in Islamabad on November 15-19, 2016, but was cancelled following the Uri terror attack in September that year, after New Delhi and other SAARC countries, including Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan also declined to participate.
To another question on Pakistan PM Imran Khan trying to rake up the Kashmir issue at international forums, including the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the MEA spokesperson highlighted two points: “One, that the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is an integral and inalienable part of India, as we all know”.
And “Secondly, the statement referred by you is by the Prime Minister of a country that openly facilitates cross border terrorism, that gave shelter to Osama bin Laden and one whose shocking human rights record is something the whole world is familiar with.”
“I don’t want to speak more on the issue,” he said.
