'Unless They Lift Siege in Kashmir': Rattled Pakistan Boycotts Jaishankar's Opening Statement at SAARC Meet

After the SAARC meeting, Jaishankar tweeted saying that the elimination of terrorism in all its forms is a precondition not only for fruitful cooperation but also for the very survival of the South Asian region.

New York): Pakistan, which is in a state of quandary, after not having been able to cut ice with the UN Rights Body and other nations on the Kashmir issue, on Thursday boycotted the SAARC Foreign Ministers meet on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, while Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar gave his address. Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi kept away from the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Foreign Ministers meeting as Jaishankar was giving his address, and once the Indian minister finished and left, the Pakistan minister made his entry. Qureshi said his country will not engage with India "until and unless they lift the siege" in Kashmir. When pressed further on his late arrival, Qureshi said he does not want to sit with the Indian minister as a mark of protest over Kashmir. After the SAARC meeting, Jaishankar tweeted saying that the elimination of terrorism in all its forms is a precondition not only for fruitful cooperation but also for the very survival of the South Asian region.

In our view, elimination of terrorism in all its forms is a precondition not only for fruitful cooperation but also for the very survival of our region itself.

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) September 26, 2019

Ours is really not just a story of missed opportunities but also of deliberate obstacles. Terrorism is among them.

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) September 26, 2019

"Ours is really not just a story of missed opportunities but also of deliberate obstacles. Terrorism is among them. In our view, elimination of terrorism in all its forms is a precondition not only for fruitful cooperation but also for the very survival of our region itself," Jaishankar said on Twitter. Jaishankar had, however, refused to comment on the absence of his Pakistani counterpart during his opening statement. Pakistan's action comes even as it has been continually accusing India of hampering South Asian integration and SAARC. Tensions between India and Pakistan have heightened since the former abrogated Article 370 of the Constitution to revoke the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. Flabbergasted by India’s historic decision, a rattled Pakistan downgraded diplomatic ties and expelled the Indian ambassador. (With additional information from Agencies)