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{{short description|Former scheduled diplomatic conference}}
{{Infobox summit
| summit_name = 19th SAARC summit
| other_titles =

| caption =
| country = {{Pak}}
| cities =[[Islamabad]]
| venues =
| date = November 15–19, 2016{{efn|Event cancelled}}
| motto =
| participants = N/A
| chairperson =
| follows = [[18th SAARC summit]]
| precedes = 20th SAARC summit
| website = {{URL|saarc-sec.org/SAARC-Summit/7/|Saarc}}
}}

The '''19th SAARC summit''' was a scheduled diplomatic conference which was originally planned to be held in [[Islamabad]], [[Pakistan]], on 15–19 November 2016, but got cancelled after an [[2016 Uri attack|attack on an Indian army camp in Kashmir]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Pakistan to host 19th SAARC Summit in Islamabad |url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/national/26-Nov-2014/pakistan-to-host-19th-saarc-summit-in-islamabad |newspaper=[[Daily Times (Pakistan)]] |agency=Associated Press of Pakistan |date=26 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303224412/http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/national/26-Nov-2014/pakistan-to-host-19th-saarc-summit-in-islamabad |archive-date=3 March 2016}}</ref> The summit was to be attended by the leaders of the eight [[South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation|SAARC]] member states and representatives of observers and guest states.

Following the rising diplomatic tensions after the [[2016 Uri attack]], [[India]] announced its boycott of the summit, alleging Pakistan's involvement in the attack. Later, [[Bangladesh]], [[Afghanistan]], and [[Bhutan]] also pulled out of the summit.<ref name="rediff.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/report/india-pulls-out-of-saarc-summit-in-pakistan/20160927.htm|title=Pak isolated after India, 3 other countries pull out of SAARC summit - Rediff.com India News|publisher=|accessdate=29 September 2016}}</ref>{{unreliable source?|date=November 2022}} culminating in an indefinite postponement of the summit.

==Background==
Following the [[2016 Uri terror attack]], India cancelled its participation in the 19th SAARC summit, alleging Pakistan's involvement in the terror attack.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/india-pulls-out-of-saarc-summit-in-islamabad-1467221|title=PM Narendra Modi Will Not Attend SAARC Summit In Pakistan|publisher=|accessdate=29 September 2016}}</ref><ref name=envoy>
[http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/days-after-uri-attack-india-summons-pakistan-envoy-abdul-basit-1464745 3 Days After Uri Attack, India Hands Pakistan Envoy Evidence And A Warning], NDTV News, 21 September 2016.</ref>

== Reactions by member nations ==
Bangladesh also pulled out of the summit in Islamabad. The Bangladeshi Foreign Ministry conveyed to the SAARC Chair Nepal that Pakistan's increasing interference in Bangladesh's domestic affairs is inimical to the interest of Bangladesh and under such circumstances it is not possible to participate in the summit at Islamabad.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/after-india-bangladesh-pulls-out-of-saarc-summit-in-islamabad/394601/|title=After India, Bangladesh pulls out of SAARC summit in Islamabad|date=27 September 2016|publisher=|accessdate=29 September 2016}}</ref> The ministry maintained that "Bangladesh, as the initiator of the SAARC process, remains steadfast in its commitment to regional cooperation, connectivity, and contacts but believes that these can only go forward in a more congenial atmosphere".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/after-india-bangladesh-bhutan-pull-out-of-saarc-summit/article9157600.ece|title=SAARC summit to be cancelled|first=Kallol|last=Bhattacherjee|date=28 September 2016|publisher=|accessdate=29 September 2016|newspaper=The Hindu}}</ref>

Afghanistan announced its withdrawal from the summit, stating, "Due to increased level of violence and fighting as a result of imposed terrorism on Afghanistan, (President) Ashraf Ghani with his responsibilities as the Commander-in-Chief will be fully engaged, and will not be able to attend the Summit."<ref name = "HT">{{cite web|title=Saarc summit collapses after India and three other members pull out|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/saarc-summit-collapses-after-india-and-3-other-members-pull-out/story-kIMWfSqirGLzB6MEfuS3CN.html|website=Hindustan Times|accessdate=29 September 2016|date=28 September 2016}}</ref>

Bhutan also withdrew from the summit. The country stated that the "recent escalation of terrorism in the region has seriously compromised the environment for the successful holding" of the summit. The Bhutanese government added that it also shared the concerns of some member states on the "deterioration of regional peace because of terror".<ref name="rediff.com"/><ref name = "HT"/>

Sri Lanka, backing a call for postponing the 19th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Summit in Pakistan, said the prevailing environment in the region was not conducive for holding the event.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/south-asia/Another-jolt-to-Pakistan-as-Sri-Lanka-pulls-out-of-SAARC-Summit/article15421034.ece|title=Another jolt to Pakistan as Sri Lanka pulls out of SAARC Summit|date=2016-09-30|work=The Hindu|access-date=2017-11-24|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

The Maldives, which initially refrained from boycotting and instead urged a conductive environment be created for the summit, later boycotted the event condemning international terrorism, especially those originating from outside.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/international/maldives-asks-saarc-nations-to-create-conducive-environment-116100100060_1.html|title = Maldives asks Saarc nations to create 'conducive' environment|newspaper = Business Standard India|date = October 2016|agency = Press Trust of India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/india/saarc-summit-pakistan-completely-isolated-as-maldives-backs-indias-stand_1935387.html|title=SAARC summit: Pak completely isolated as Maldives joins four other nations to back India's stand|date=2016-09-30|work=Zee News|access-date=2017-11-24|language=en}}</ref>

Nepal, the current chair of SAARC, urged that "a conducive environment be created soon to ensure the participation of all member states in the 19th SAARC summit in line with the spirit of the SAARC charter".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Create-conducive-environment-for-participation-of-all-member-states-in-Saarc-summit-Nepal/articleshow/54572285.cms|title=Create conducive environment for participation of all member states in Saarc summit: Nepal|website=The Times of India|date=29 September 2016 |accessdate=29 September 2016}}</ref> It also asked the member countries "to ensure that their respective territories are not used by terrorists for cross border terrorism".

Pakistan first postponed the conference to a further date, citing ''Article X'' (General Provisions) of the SAARC Charter that all decisions at all levels shall be taken on the basis of unanimity.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Charter of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation |url=http://www.wipo.int/edocs/trtdocs/en/saarc/trt_saarc.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180219045403/http://www.wipo.int/edocs/trtdocs/en/saarc/trt_saarc.pdf |archive-date=2018-02-19 |access-date=2016-10-01}}</ref> However, after Maldives, sixth of the eight member nations, pulled out, Pakistan was forced to cancel the summit altogether.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/SAARC-summit-to-be-cancelled/article15004093.ece|title=SAARC summit to be cancelled|date=2016-09-28|work=The Hindu|access-date=2017-11-24|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

==See also==

* [[List of SAARC summits]]
* [[2016 Uri terror attack]]

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|http://www.saarc-sec.org/}}
{{South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:SAARC summit, 19}}
[[Category:South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Summits]]
[[Category:21st-century diplomatic conferences (Africa)]]
[[Category:Boycotts of events]]

19th SAARC summit - Revision history

WikiDwarf at 10:59, 19 September 2023