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Pak effect: Except Sri Lanka, India refuses to invite any SAARC member for Pravasi Bharatiya Divas

WION Web Team
New Delhi, Delhi, IndiaUpdated: Jan 05, 2018, 03:55 PM IST
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File photo. Photograph:(Zee News Network)

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The seven-member SAARC group increased to eight after the inclusion of Afghanistan in 2007.

India has decided not to send invitations for Pravasi Bharatiya Divas to any SAARC member except Sri Lanka, external affairs ministry announced today.

India's move comes after minister of state for external affairs MJ Akbar had said in Parliament today that SAARC had failed to achieve its objective due to “obstructionist approach” by Pakistan.

“SAARC has been unable to achieve its potential as key initiatives, including in the important area of connectivity, are held back due to lack of response and/or obstructionist approach of Pakistan,” Akbar said in Rajya Sabha while replying to a question.

"Several SAARC member states expressed their inability to participate in the 19th SAARC summit that was scheduled to be held in November 2016 in Pakistan due to concerns arising from increasing cross-border terrorist attacks in the region and growing interference in the internal affairs of member states by that country,” Akbar said. 

The seven-member SAARC group increased to eight after the inclusion of Afghanistan in 2007.

The 19th SAARC summit to be held in Islamabad faced a setback in 2016 after India pulled out citing an increase in cross-border terrorist attacks.