The formal invitation was sent to the Indian prime minister as well as other Saarc countries at a time when tensions between Islamabad and New Delhi are running high over recent unrest in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) and Modi’s controversial statement on Balochistan.
Because of the worsening ties, Indian Finance Minister ArunJaitley skipped the Saarc finance ministers’ meeting that concluded on Friday.
Although Pakistan formally invited India for the summit, it is not clear if Modi will travel to Islamabad for the key regional conference. Pakistan, at least, is giving the impression that the summit will go ahead as planned.
“The preparations for the successful holding of the summit in Islamabad are being made by Pakistan,” said Foreign Office spokesperson NafeesZakria.
The spokesperson said in order to give impetus to the process of preparations, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry inaugurated a Saarc Summit Cell at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday.
The Saarc Summit Cell is headed by Ambassador AmjadSial, who is a senior diplomat and nominee of the Government of Pakistan as Saarc’s next secretary general,
The cell will closely work with all stakeholders and authorities concerned in Pakistan. It will also liaise with the member states, Saarc observers and the Saarc Secretariat for an organisation of the summit.
Pakistan briefs P-5, EU on Kashmir unrest
Meanwhile, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz on Friday confirmed that India turned down its latest offer of talks on Kashmir.
