Indian Envoy snubbed in Pakistan, event cancelled at last minute
NEW DELHI : The Indian government on Tuesday clarified that no decision has so far been taken on Narendra Modi’s visit to Pakistan this November to attend the SAARC Summit. “Decisions of such nature not made so far in advance,” said Minister of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted today.
On Monday, at an event in Karachi, India’s High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale was quoted as saying that the PM Modi is looking forward to visiting Islamabad for the SAARC Summit in November while adding that India and Pakistan must certainly discuss the entire range of issues.
“I can’t say about the future but as of today Prime Minister Modi is looking forward to visiting Islamabad for the SAARC Summit in November,” The Dawn quoted Bambawale as saying at an interactive session of the Karachi Council on Foreign Relations.Bambawale was speaking at an event in Karachi when he said that both the neighbouring countries must keep their focus on economy which according to him is a low hanging fruit.
Bambawale’s statement came at a point when speculations are being made that PM Modi might skip the SAARC Summit in view of the rising tensions between India and Pakistan.Bambawale had also told an event in Karachi on Monday that while India and Pakistan must certainly discuss the entire range of issues, they must keep their focus on economy which he described as a ‘low-hanging fruit’.
He also stated said that it was India’s desire to see a Pakistan which was moderate, prosperous and stable and at peace with itself, its neighbours as well as the rest of the world.
