India will not be able to take part in the forthcoming summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) that is expected to take place in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad, India's Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement on Tuesday.
NEW DELHI (Sputnik) — SAARC is an economic and political organization of eight countries, namely India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Maldives and Bangladesh.
"In response to a question, the Official Spokesperson stated that India has conveyed to current SAARC Chair Nepal that increasing cross-border terrorist attacks in the region and growing interference in the internal affairs of Member States by one country have created an environment that is not conducive to the successful holding of the 19th SAARC Summit in Islamabad in November 2016…" the statement said.
"In the prevailing circumstances, the Government of India is unable to participate in the proposed Summit in Islamabad."
The Foreign Ministry added that New Delhi remained steadfast in its commitment to cooperation and contacts in the region.
Tensions between India and Pakistan entangled in the decades-long dispute over Jammu and Kashmir region have escalated since July after Indian security forces killed Burhan Wani, a renowned separatist commander. On Sunday, a group of militants reportedly crossed from Pakistan into India-administered northern Kashmir territory and attacked the Indian base in Uri, killing 18 servicemen.
This story first appeared on Sputnik & is reposted here with permission.