In a big fallout of Uri terror attack, India has decided not take part in the upcoming South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation(SAARC) summit to be held in Pakistan’s Islamabad. Making a formal announcement, Ministry of External Affairs said that Government of India will not be able to attend the proposed summit in prevailing circumstances. MEA in a statement said that the decision has been conveyed to current SAARC chair Nepal. India, in its message to Nepal, has once again slammed Pakistan for vitiating the environment by promoting terrorism. “In the prevailing circumstances, Government of India is unable to participate in the proposed Summit in Islamabad,” said MEA in a formal statement.

“India conveyed to current SAARC Chair Nepal that increasing cross-border terrorist attacks in the region and growing interference in internal affairs of Member States by one country created environment that’s not conducive to the successful holding of summit in Islamabad,” added MEA. Justifying government’s decision, MEA said that regional cooperation can be achieved in a terror-free environment. “India remains steadfast in commitment to regional cooperation and connectivity but believes that it can only go forward in the atmosphere free of terror,” said MEA.

According to PTI sources, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Bhutan are the other countries which have said no to attending the Summit in Pakistan. The announcement came on a day Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar issued a second summon to Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit over September 18 Uri attack and confronted him with proof of “cross-border origins” of the terror strike in which 18 jawans were killed.