SAARC: Unless cross border terrorism addressed, situation to remain same, says India

As SAARC celebrates its 31st Anniversary, India on Thursday asserted that unless the cross border terrorism is addressed and unless a mindset which opposes all connectivity initiate is reversed, the "situation will pretty much remain the same".

the fate of Summit will continue to be uncertain until the issue of cross border terrorism is not addressed by Pakistan.

Indirectly targeting Islamabad for scuttling India's chances of building greater regional connectivity and cooperation among SAARC members, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said, "The message is very clear; even the Prime Minister addressed to this particular issue on December 2 - that the India's commitment to SAARC remains undiluted. We are all for regional, peace, prosperity and most importantly connectivity. We all know why SAARC has not made progress, because one standout country has consistently opposed all our efforts, initiatives towards promoting greater regional cooperation and connectivity."

Swarup further said that unless cross border terrorism is addressed, unless a mindset which opposes all connectivity initiate is reversed the "situation will pretty much remain the same".

"The ball is in entirely in Pakistan's court. It is for them to re-schedule the Summit. We know the reasons why the summit was postponed because all the SAARC members expressed their views to the chair that the current environment is not feasible for talks," he said.

The 19th SAARC Summit, which was scheduled to be held in November in Islamabad, was cancelled after Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan followed India's decision to stay away from the Summit.

India's decision not to participate in the Summit was in consequence to the Uri terror attack in which 19 Indian soldiers were gunned by terrorists on September 18.