Imran Khan misses SAARC video conference amid coronavirus outbreak
Conferences
While the Saarc video conference was attended by either the heads of states or the heads of governments, of South Asian nations, a notable miss was Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan.
Imran Khan was represented by his special advisor on health Zafar Mirza.
Also Read: Collective response needed to tackle coronavirus outbreak: SAARC leaders
What this goes on to demonstrate is that perhaps Pak prime minister did not find the novel coronavirus an issue pressing enough.
Sources within the Indian ministry of external affairs have hit out at what they call was a politicisation of a regional platform in times of duress.
Sources also said that it was petty and churlish of Imran Khan not to attend the video conference.
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While leaders from all other nations thanked prime minister Narendra Modi for getting them together in the saarc video conference. Pak's representative Zafar Mirza subtly bypassed this.
Also Read: 'We must act, succeed together': PM Modi at SAARC conference
He began his address by wishing good health to Nepalese pm Kp Sharma Oli and moved on with a status report on how Pakistan was dealing with the virus.
Zafar Mirza didn't even acknowledge the Indian prime minister.
What also came as a total surprise was the mention of china.
Saarc is a group of south Asian nations. China is not a south Asian nation hence, not a member.
But Pakistan made it a point to praise China for its efforts in tackling coronavirus.