Nepal calls for creation of 'conducive environment' for Saarc summit after 4 nations boycott the meet

The government of Nepal on Wednesday (28 September) confirmed that it has received communications from four members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) about their decisions to boycott the upcoming regional summit. The government urged all the eight member nations to create "a conducive environment" for the summit to go as planned in November.

Earlier on Wednesday, India announced that the country will not take part in the summit being hosted by Pakistan, arguing that talks cannot take place amid violence and terrorism. India's stand came as part of diplomatic efforts to isolate Pakistan, which apparently worked as Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Bhutan, too decided not to attend the summit.

In a statement, Nepal's foreign ministry said they have been conveyed that the four nations have pulled out of the 19th Saarc summit scheduled for 9 and 10 November in Islamabad "stating that current regional environment is not conducive to the successful holding of the Summit".

"We have taken this development seriously," the ministry said, adding: "as the current chair of Saarc, the government of Nepal strongly urges that a conducive environment be created for the 19th Saarc Summit soon by ensuring the participation of all member states in line with the spirit of the Saarc Charter."

Meanwhile, Pakistani media reported Sartaj Aziz, adviser on Foreign Affairs to Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, as saying that the summit would be postponed if the member nations stick to their decision of not participating. "As per Saarc rules the summit will not be held if any member country refused to attend," he reportedly said, adding that an official announcement has not yet been made by Nepal.

Outraged over a recent terror attack on an Army base in Uri near the line of control with Pakistan, India began diplomatic measures to isolate Pakistan for allegedly supporting terrorist activities. 18 Indian soldiers were killed in the Uri attack, one of the deadliest attacks in the recent past.

On Thursday, 29 September, Indian army announced that it launched multiple "surgical strikes" inside the line of control on Wednesday night and caused severe casualties to Islamist infiltrators.