Colombo, September 30 (NIA): As one of the founding members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), Sri Lanka on Friday regretted that the current security situation is not conducive to holding a summit.
In a statement issued following the indefinite postponement of the Islamabad summit to be held in November, the Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry nevertheless said that it hopes that “steps required to ensure the region’s peace and security will be taken to create an environment that is conducive for the pursuit of regional cooperation.”
“Sri Lanka condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and stresses in this regard, the need to deal with the issue of terrorism in the region in a decisive manner.”
The SAARC summit to be held in Islamabad in Pakistan on November 9 and 10 was postponed indefinitely after India, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Bhutan declared a boycott.
India, Bangladesh and Afghanistan said cross border terrorism perpetrated by “one country” (meaning Pakistan) had rendered the atmosphere unsuitable for a summit.
All the three countries accuse Pakistan of fomenting terrorism in their territory. But Bhutan, being a close ally of India, just went along with New Delhi.