Pakistan Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua said Friday that Islamabad is ready to host the 19th SAARC Summit, two years after it was called off when India declined to participate following a deadly terror attack in the country. 
 
Janjua addressed a ceremony organised by Ministry of Foreign Affairs to celebrate the 34th SAARC Charter Day in collaboration with the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Arbitration Council and SAARC Energy Center.&nbsp;

Janjua said being the founding member, Pakistan stands steadfastly by the principles of the SAARC charter.

Janjua emphasised that only through adhering to the principles of sovereign equality and mutual respect among member states, the SAARC grouping can achieve the cherished goal of a prosperous and developed South Asian region.

She pointed out that the SAARC countries over the years have focused on poverty alleviation. However, life of a large population remains far from satisfactory. "We have enormous responsibility to deliver on this front," she said.

The Foreign Secretary said South Asia being home to 1.7 billion talented, energetic and educated human resource and abundantly blessed with natural resources must not be left behind.

She also reiterated that "Pakistan stands ready to host the 19th SAARC Summit."

The 2016 SAARC Summit was to be held in November in Islamabad. But after a deadly terrorist attack on an Indian Army camp in Uri in Jammu and

Kashmir in September that year, India expressed its inability to participate in the summit due to "prevailing circumstances".

The summit was called off after Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan also declined to participate in the Islamabad meet. Maldives and Sri Lanka are the seventh and eighth members of the grouping.

Last month, Pakistan said it would invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the SAARC Summit. However, India said that unless and until Pakistan stops terrorist activities in the country, there will be no dialogue and participation in the SAARC.&nbsp;

Pakistan Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua said Friday that Islamabad is ready to host the 19th SAARC Summit, two years after it was called off when India declined to participate following a deadly terror attack in the country.

Pakistan Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua said Friday that Islamabad is ready to host the 19th SAARC Summit, two years after it was called off when India declined to participate following a deadly terror attack in the country. Janjua addressed a ceremony organised by Ministry of Foreign Affairs to celebrate the 34th SAARC Charter Day in collaboration with the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Arbitration Council and SAARC Energy Center. Janjua said being the founding member, Pakistan stands steadfastly by the principles of the SAARC charter. Janjua emphasised that only through adhering to the principles of sovereign equality and mutual respect among member states, the SAARC grouping can achieve the cherished goal of a prosperous and developed South Asian region. She pointed out that the SAARC countries over the years have focused on poverty alleviation. However, life of a large population remains far from satisfactory. "We have enormous responsibility to deliver on this front," she said. The Foreign Secretary said South Asia being home to 1.7 billion talented, energetic and educated human resource and abundantly blessed with natural resources must not be left behind. She also reiterated that "Pakistan stands ready to host the 19th SAARC Summit." The 2016 SAARC Summit was to be held in November in Islamabad. But after a deadly terrorist attack on an Indian Army camp in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir in September that year, India expressed its inability to participate in the summit due to "prevailing circumstances". The summit was called off after Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan also declined to participate in the Islamabad meet. Maldives and Sri Lanka are the seventh and eighth members of the grouping. Last month, Pakistan said it would invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the SAARC Summit. However, India said that unless and until Pakistan stops terrorist activities in the country, there will be no dialogue and participation in the SAARC.

Ready to host 19th SAARC Summit: Pakistan Foreign Secretary

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) chair Nepal today expressed regret that the regional environment is &quot;not conducive&quot; to host the 19th edition of the SAARC summit.&nbsp;

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Five member states, including India, recently pulled out of the two-day summit that was scheduled to be held in Islamabad, Pakistan on November 8 and November 9.&nbsp;

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Taking a jibe at host-nation Pakistan, Nepal said that member states must ensure their territories are not used for cross-border terrorism.

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Nepal &quot;unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations&quot; and expresses its solidarity in the global fight against terrorism,&quot; Nepal&#39;s foreign affairs ministry said in a statement, according to multiple reports, &nbsp;adding the country has always condemned all acts of terrorism in the region.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

It&#39;s pertinent to mention that Indo-Pak strain has scuttled the SAARC summit after the September 18 Uri attack in Kashmir and ensuing war of words between the two neighbouring nations at United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Indian Army on Thursday also claimed to have killed several militants in Pakistan-administered Kashmir as it carried out surgical strikes in the region in response to Uri attack.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Afghanistan gradually pullet out the SAARC summit after the Uri attack indirectly blaming Pakistan for creating an environment which was not right for the success of the meet.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Nepal today, was quoted as saying by Indian media that it strongly believes that &quot;an environment of peace and stability is essential for a meaningful regional cooperation&quot;.

&nbsp;

&quot;Most recently, Nepal has condemned the terrorist attack on Indian Army base in Uri, Kashmir on September 18, that resulted in the loss of life of Indian soldiers,&quot; it noted.

&nbsp;

It further said that to achieve peace and stability in the region, &quot;SAARC member states must, among others, ensure that their respective territories are not used by terrorists for cross-border terrorism&quot;.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Nepal &quot;regrets that regional environment is not conducive&quot; to host the next summit.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Earlier, Nepal&#39;s minister for foreign affairs Prakash Sharan Mahat was quoted as saying by Indian news agency PTI that &nbsp;Nepal is likely to take necessary measures to hold discussions with member states to press for holding the 19th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Summit,&nbsp;

&nbsp;

It said it will initiate &quot;necessary consultation&quot; for holding the next summit. &quot;As the current Chair of SAARC, Nepal underscores the need for creating a conducive regional environment for the SAARC Summit. Nepal will initiate necessary consultation on successfully holding the 19th Summit with the participation of all member states,&quot; the statement said.

&nbsp;

&ldquo;SAARC is an important forum for advancing regional cooperation and development,&rdquo; the minister said yesterday after returning from the 71st UN General Assembly (UNGA).

&nbsp;

Harmonious relations between the member-states would enhance utilisation of the association and encourage regional development, he said.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
(WION with inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Five member states, including India, recently pulled out of the two-day summit that was scheduled to be held in Pakistan in November

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) chair Nepal today expressed regret that the regional environment is "not conducive" to host the 19th edition of the SAARC summit. Five member states, including India, recently pulled out of the two-day summit that was scheduled to be held in Islamabad, Pakistan on November 8 and November 9. Taking a jibe at host-nation Pakistan, Nepal said that member states must ensure their territories are not used for cross-border terrorism. Nepal "unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations" and expresses its solidarity in the global fight against terrorism," Nepal's foreign affairs ministry said in a statement, according to multiple reports, adding the country has always condemned all acts of terrorism in the region. It's pertinent to mention that Indo-Pak strain has scuttled the SAARC summit after the September 18 Uri attack in Kashmir and ensuing war of words between the two neighbouring nations at United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Indian Army on Thursday also claimed to have killed several militants in Pakistan-administered Kashmir as it carried out surgical strikes in the region in response to Uri attack. India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Afghanistan gradually pullet out the SAARC summit after the Uri attack indirectly blaming Pakistan for creating an environment which was not right for the success of the meet. Meanwhile, Nepal today, was quoted as saying by Indian media that it strongly believes that "an environment of peace and stability is essential for a meaningful regional cooperation". "Most recently, Nepal has condemned the terrorist attack on Indian Army base in Uri, Kashmir on September 18, that resulted in the loss of life of Indian soldiers," it noted. It further said that to achieve peace and stability in the region, "SAARC member states must, among others, ensure that their respective territories are not used by terrorists for cross-border terrorism". Nepal "regrets that regional environment is not conducive" to host the next summit. Earlier, Nepal's minister for foreign affairs Prakash Sharan Mahat was quoted as saying by Indian news agency PTI that Nepal is likely to take necessary measures to hold discussions with member states to press for holding the 19th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Summit, It said it will initiate "necessary consultation" for holding the next summit. "As the current Chair of SAARC, Nepal underscores the need for creating a conducive regional environment for the SAARC Summit. Nepal will initiate necessary consultation on successfully holding the 19th Summit with the participation of all member states," the statement said. “SAARC is an important forum for advancing regional cooperation and development,” the minister said yesterday after returning from the 71st UN General Assembly (UNGA). Harmonious relations between the member-states would enhance utilisation of the association and encourage regional development, he said. (WION with inputs from agencies)

SAARC Chair Nepal says environment not conducive to hold regional summit

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Ready to host 19th SAARC Summit: Pakistan Foreign Secretary

SAARC Chair Nepal says environment not conducive to hold regional summit