SAARC summit can't take place if even one member pulls out: Nepal

Kathmandu: Nepal, the present Chair of the SAARC, said on Friday that the summit of the South Asian regional grouping cannot take place if even one member country notifies its inability to participate in the event.

In a statement after India, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan pulled out from the 19th SAARC Summit that was scheduled to be held in Islamabad, Nepal said it is clear that the summit cannot take place even if one member notifies of its inability to attend the event.

The Foreign Ministry of Nepal`s remarks came in the wake of various ambiguous media reports about the upcoming summit.

Earlier, in its first statement, the ministry had urged all the member countries to create an environment conducive for the summit by ensuring their participation.

It also said that indefinite postponement of the summit would not be in the interest of any country and that Nepal expected the host nation would take necessary initiatives to hold the regional meet.

Pakistan is the rotational host (in alphabetical order) of the upcoming summit whose future is hanging in balance after four countries pulled out their participation from the summit as tension arises at India-Pakistan border.

"As a Chair of the SAARC, Nepal is ready to play its role. And, as a Chair, Nepal has already urged the member states to create conducive environment to hold the event as soon as possible," the Foreign Ministry said.