The 2016 SAARC Summit has been cancelled after Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan followed India's decision to stay away from the meet initially scheduled to be held in Islamabad this November. A Kathmandu-based diplomatic source said, "There is no question of holding the summit if four countries declare their unwillingness to participate. As the current SAARC Chair, Nepal has the responsibility of seeking a solution to such pre-summit disputes but under the current circumstances nothing much can be attempted. We will do the due formalities and will declare the summit of 2016 should be cancelled due to non-participation of member states."
Talks of cancellation began to build up after Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan sent formal official communications to Kathmandu on September 27 almost tailing India's decision of not being able to participate in the summit due to "prevailing circumstances". The source said Nepal did not take any decision on the summit as it is the current SAARC Chair. "We wish that a diplomatic breakthrough could be found with a possible change of venue but no one can guarantee success of such steps as four countries have already declared their inability to attend the summit without seeking an alternate venue," he said.
The other three countries apart from India, also put forth their concern regarding cross-border terrorist attacks, in their official notes to Kathmandu. A communication from Dhaka to Nepal read, "The growing interference in the internal affairs of Bangladesh by one country has created an environment, which is not conducive to the successful hosting of the 19th SAARC summit in Islamabad in November 2016. Bangladesh, as the initiator of the SAARC process, remains steadfast in its commitment to regional cooperation, connectivity and contacts but believes that these can only go forward in a more congenial atmosphere."
The Royal Government of Bhutan sent a similar note, stating it "shares the concerns of some of the member countries of SAARC". "While reaffirming Bhutan's strong commitment to the SAARC process and strengthening of regional cooperation, it notes the concern of the Royal Government of Bhutan on the recent escalation of terrorism in the region, which has seriously compromised the environment for the successful holding of the 19th SAARC summit in Islamabad," it read.
The cancellation of the summit has made the future of SAARC on the rocks as several diplomats advised Pakistan to cooperate. Bangla High Commissioner Syed Muazzam Ali said Pak remains part of the region and should contribute to building regional harmony. "We would still like to continue with SAARC process and hope there will be change and Pakistan comes to the path of cooperation instead of contradiction."
