'No material change on ground': India in no rush to answer Pakistan's SAARC invite

Despite several requests me by PM Imran Khan-led Pakistan government urging India to attend SAARC summit scheduled to be hosted by Islamab, India has not me any decision yet to participate in summit even virtually, Ministry of External Affairs informed on Thursday. 

Informing furr, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi held a press conference on Thursday and clarified that re is no material change on ground on decision of participating in SAARC summit being held by Pakistan. He furr informed that ‘re has been no consensus, that will permit holding of SAARC summit.'

Pakistan, host country for impending South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Summit, h earlier extended invite to India on January 3, and or participating nations to join Summit. SAARC comprises Afghanistan, Banglesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka as members. In invite, it h also stated that leers can attend Summit virtually if not physically. 

Pakistan's feeble attempts to make diplomatic gains

India h been stern on making any decision on Summit as it is a feeble attempt by Pakistan to make diplomatic gains at same time when country continues to sponsor terrorism in India. Diplomatically, Islamab is trying to polish its image, while it continues with its nefarious designs to attack India from behind. Pakistan’s hypocrisy was exposed on same day it h sent invite, by Border Security Forces in Kashmir. 

On Monday, January 3, security forces shot at a suspected Pakistani intruder and later y recovered arms and ammunition at Ramgarh along India-Pakistan border in Jammu and Kashmir’s Samba region. BSF h recovered arms including three AK-47 rifles, five packets of heroin, four pistols, five magazines of AK-47 rifles, two pistol magazines, 14 rounds AK-47, and seven bullets of 9mm. 

Sharing images of same, BSF said, "During special ZLP, alert troops of 98 Battalion recovered following arms, ammunition, and heroin hidden in Sarkanda near IB near BP 35." Meanwhile, recovered sack h markings of "Karachi Fertilizers Company Limited".

In dition, central intelligence reports claim that Pakistan's ISI has teamed up with Khalistani groups to carry out attacks in India, particularly in poll-bound areas like Punjab. 

India denied participating in Pak-hosted SAARC in 2016 after URI terror attack

Pakistan was scheduled to host 19th SAARC Summit in November 2016. However, following a militant attack on an Indian Army camp in Uri, Jammu and Kashmir, on September 18, that year, India announced that it will not attend summit. After India's denial, or nations also extended support to India and denied participation. Banglesh, Bhutan, and Afghanistan declined to attend Islamab meeting, refore, summit was cancelled.

Image: ANI, PTI