CT News Service
New Delhi, January 3
Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Monday said his country was ready to host the long-delayed 19th SAARC Summit, which India can join virtually if its leadership was unwilling to visit Islamabad.
“I reiterate the invitation for the 19th SAARC summit. If India is not ready to come to Islamabad, it can join virtually… but it should not stop others from attending the event,” he said while addressing a press conference in Islamabad. Pakistan was scheduled to host the SAARC summit in November 2016, but India boycotted the conference because of tensions between the two countries. Since then the summit could not take place because the SAARC charter states that the meeting of the heads of governments cannot be held if a member refuses to participate.
“If India cannot attend the summit in Islamabad at least it should not stop other members,” said Qureshi, while accusing India of making SAARC dysfunctional by being “ stubborn” and refusing to come to Islamabad for the summit.
The SAARC Secretary-General had recently visited Islamabad and Pakistan had expressed its readiness to host the summit, said Qureshi.
Qureshi said India’s hostile behaviour had held hostage the prospects of durable peace and stability in the region.
(The article is generated from feeds via CT, The Chenab Times staff didn’t write this news.)
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