PM Narendra Modi to skip Saarc summit in Islamabad as Uri terror attack hurts Indo-Pak ties

Upping the ante against Pakistan on Tuesday, India issued a statement that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not be taking part in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) meet in Islamabad. Firstpost was the first to report that Modi would not be travelling to Pakistan in an exclusive piece by Sunil Raman on 19 September .

Regional cooperation and terror don't go together. India pulls out of SAARC Summit in Islamabad pic.twitter.com/jabKoaBegJ

— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) September 27, 2016

The Ministry of External Affairs stated that India has conveyed to the current chair Nepal about the decision and said that increasing cross-border terrorist attacks in the region and growing interference in the internal affairs of member states by one country has created an environment that is not conducive to successful holding of summit in Islamabad.

India conveyed to current SAARC Chair Nepal that increasing cross-border terrorist attacks in the region and growing interference(cont): MEA

— ANI (@ANI) September 27, 2016

(cnt)in internal affairs of Member States by 1contry created environment thats nt conducive to successful holding of summit in Islamabad:MEA

— ANI (@ANI) September 27, 2016

The MEA further said that though India remains steadfast in commitment to regional cooperation and connectivity, but it can move forward in atmosphere free of terror.

India remains steadfast in commitment to regional coop'n,connectivity but believes that it can only go fwd in atmosphere free of terror: MEA

— ANI (@ANI) September 27, 2016

Reports also suggest that countries like Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Bhutan have conveyed their reservation about attending the Saarc summit.

Other countries skipping SAARC summit in Pakistan are Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Bhutan: Sources to ANI

— ANI (@ANI) September 27, 2016

Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs termed India’s announcement “unfortunate” and stated that Pakistan remains committed to peace and regional cooperation and the country Will continue to work to that end in the larger interest of people of this region.

We have not received any official communication in this regard, the Indian announcement is unfortunate: Pakistan MoFA

— ANI (@ANI) September 27, 2016

Pak remains committed to peace & regional coop'n. Will continue to work to that end in the larger interest of people of this region:Pak MoFA

— ANI (@ANI) September 27, 2016

Meanwhile, India’s Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar on Tuesday summoned Pakistan’s High Commissioner Abdul Basit and handed over “proof of cross-border origins” of the terror attack that killed 18 soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir’s Uri sector.

“Foreign Secretary … presents proof of cross border origins of Uri attack,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.

Foreign Secretary calls in Pakistan HC Basit today & presents proof of Cross border origins of #UriAttacks.1/n

— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) September 27, 2016

Swarup said Basit was told that the two guides were caught by villagers in Uri and were in Indian custody.

The official identified them as Yasin Khurshid, 19, s/o Mohammed Khurshid and a resident of Khiliana Kalan in Muzzaffarabad and Faizal Hussain Awan, 20, s/o Gul Akbar and from Potha Jahangir, also in Muzzaffarabad.

Modi has also called a meeting on Thursday to review the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status accorded to Pakistan. The meeting follows India’s decision on Monday to revisit the 56-year-old Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan