Pak calls India's refusal to participate in SAARC Summit 'unfortunate'

Islamabad [Pakistan], Sept. 27 (ANI): With India refusing to participate in the 19the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation in Islamabad in November, Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) spokesperson Mohammed Nafees Zakaria on Tuesday called New Delhi's announcement "unfortunate". "Pakistan has noted from Indian Spokesperson's tweet on Indian announcement about their refusal to participate in the 19th SAARC Summit being hosted by Pakistan in Islamabad this November. While we have not received any official communication in this regard, the Indian announcement is unfortunate," Zakaria tweeted. India's Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson, Vikas Swarup had earlier tweeted, "Regional cooperation and terror don't go together. India pulls out of SAARC Summit in Islamabad." Maintaining that Pakistan remains committed to peace and regional cooperation, Zakaria said Islamabad will continue to work to that end in the larger interest of the people of the region. Talking about Kulbhushan Yadav, an Indian businessman who was arrested in Balochistan and whom Pakistan claims of being a spy, Zakaria alleged that New Delhi is financing terrorism in Pakistan. "The world knows that it is India that has been perpetrating and financing terrorism in Pakistan. Public confession by Kulbhushan Yadav, Indian Intelligence agency RAW's officer, is a living proof, besides many more other evidences. It is India which has violated the international law and UN Charter by interfering in the internal matters of a sovereign state, Pakistan," he said. India today conveyed the current SAARC Chair Nepal that in the prevailing circumstances, the Government of India is unable to participate in the proposed Summit. Other countries skipping SAARC summit in Pakistan are Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Bhutan. (ANI)