On Saturday, SAARC chair Nepal said it will hold talks with member states to press for holding the group's summit which has been postponed following a pull-out by five countries, including India.
A statement released by Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday said:
As current chair of SAARC, Nepal underscores the need for creating a conducive regional environment for the SAARC summit. Nepal regrets that the regional environment is not conducive to host the 19th SAARC summit in Islamabad but it will initiate necessary consultation on successfully holding it.
The countries that pulled out did so by indirectly blaming Pakistan for creating an environment which is not right for the successful holding of the meet, with Sri Lanka becoming the fifth country to pull out.
Citing continuous cross-border terrorism spread by Pakistan, India had announced earlier this week that "in the prevailing circumstances, the Government of India is unable to participate in the proposed Summit in Islamabad."
Nepal also said that to achieve peace and stability, SAARC member states must ensure their territories aren't used for cross-border terrorism.
The 19th SAARC Summit was scheduled to take place in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad from 9 to 10 November but was postponed on Friday following the pull-out by five countries – India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.
The SAARC member states must be sensitive towards holding the Summit by ensuring the participation of every member, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prakash Sharan Mahat, said.
"SAARC is an important forum for advancing regional cooperation and development," said the minister.