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The government on Thursday said the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) can be successful only in a “terror-free environment”.
“Our interest in SAARC remains intact but our concern is that the connectivity, trade, including MFN (most-favoured nation) and cooperation that SAARC requires and the terror-free atmosphere needed for these initiatives is not there due to the actions of one country in our neighbourhood,” said Vikas Swarup, Spokesperson and JS (XP), Ministry of External Affairs, while briefing reporters.
He said the government’s priority is to promote close economic ties within the region and that it remains committed to its principles.
“Our intention is not to throw out the baby with the bath water. It is in cleaning up the bath water,” he added.
This year the 19th SAARC Summit was scheduled to be held in Islamabad next month. However, due to rising acrimony between India and Pakistan over the recent terrorist attacks in an army camp in Uri, the meeting was cancelled with member countries such as Afghanistan, Nepal and Bangladesh opting to remain out of it.
Even as India claimed success in isolating Pakistan diplomatically, Islamabad called it “ridiculous” and a “failed” attempt.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan, said: “We deplore the Indian decision to use SAARC for its political ambitions. The Indian action was contrary to the purposes and principles of the SAARC charter. In the past, SAARC summits have been postponed 8 times, 5 times India was responsible. Squandering the efforts of a 30-years-old socio-economic grouping by India is reflective of the Indian attitude and contribution to the poverty and instability in this poverty stricken region.”
Meanwhile, tensions between India and Pakistan continued to rise unabated with both the sides alleging each other of ceasefire violations across the international border in Jammu and Kashmir.
“My understanding is that there was an exchange of fire connected with attempted infiltration on the Pakistani side,” Swarup said.
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