Pak to Attend Heart of Asia Meet Despite India Boycotting SAARC
Sartaj Aziz confirmed Pakistan’s participation in the Heart of Asia conference to be held in Amritsar in December.
One of India’s tactics to globally isolate Pakistan was to pull out of the SAARC summit in Islamabad, scheduled for November. Despite that, Pakistan has confirmed its presence in the upcoming Heart of Asia conference scheduled to be held in Amritsar in December.
Sartaj Aziz, Advisor to the Pakistani Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, confirmed the country's participation while talking to journalists in Islamabad. The Heart of Asia conference will be held on 3-4 December in Amritsar, India.
Foreign ministers from 14 member countries, including Russia, China and Turkey, are expected to attend the day-long conference meant to discuss the current Afghan situation and possible initiatives the immediate and extended neighbours of Afghanistan could undertake to restore long-term peace and stability in the war-torn country, Daily Pakistan reported.
Senior officials from 17 supporting countries, including the US, will also participate in the meeting to be jointly presided over by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process was established in 2011 at the initiative of Afghanistan and Turkey. Its main objective is to foster efforts for regional cooperation and connectivity with a view to promote long-term peace and stability as well as progress and development in Afghanistan, and the region.
Pakistan hosted the last Ministerial Conference in December 2015, which was attended by Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.
(With agency inputs)
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