Will India, Pakistan conflict again call off SAARC summit?
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India and Pakistan's bitter relations and Pakistan's continuous terror operations in India may again call off this year's SAARC meeting, media reports said.
India has evidently shown its disinterest towards any South Asian meeting at the meeting of SAARC foreign ministers held on the sidelines of United Nations General Assembly.
A media report quoted external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj said "Regional prosperity, connectivity and cooperation can take place only in an atmosphere of peace and security. It, however, remains at serious risk in the region".
Sushma Swaraj also added that SAARC failed to connect South Asia with other regions of the world and it could not develop a free trade system.
In the UNGA, India's major concern has been on maintaining peace and security in the South Asian region.
India has always played a lead role in in SAARC Summit. The country's disinterest makes it quite uncertain the event itself will take place.
The 2016 SAARC Summit was called off after India, Bangladesh and Afghanistan showed disinterest in the event that was scheduled to be held in Islamabad.
The three countries cited Pakistan's open support to terror as a reason for their disapproval.