© epaIndian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had originally been scheduled to attend the eight-nation SAARC summit in Islamabad
India's Foreign Ministry said in a statement on September 27 that it would not participate due to "increasing cross-border terrorist attacks in the region and growing interference in the internal affairs of member states by one country."
The statement did not name Pakistan, but New Delhi has accused Pakistan-based militants of launching a deadly assault on an army base in India-controlled Kashmir this month that killed 18 soldiers.
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi was scheduled to attend the eight-nation South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit in Islamabad. Other member states are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.
Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesman Nafees Zakaria said Islamabad remained committed to peace.
The SAARC was founded in 1985 to promote economic cooperation in the region, but tensions between India and Pakistan have often blocked its progress.
Yet again, an opportunity has gone amiss for peace and table talks between two nuclear armed countries. Yet again India has waved is middle finger at diplomacy. Instead of talks it's chosen a gun. The stakes are high, neither country can afford yet another war. A wise leadership in India would greet SAARC meeting with open arms but yet again Indian political establishment has shown that peaceful negotiations is the last thing on their minds. What a shame!!