As India announces Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not travel to Pakistan for the regional SAARC summit in November, three other members - Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Bhutan - have also decided to pull out of the meet.


In it's communication to the current chair of SAARC or South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, Bangladesh has said: "Growing interference in internal affairs of Bangladesh by one country has created environment not conducive to the successful hosting of the 19th SAARC Summit in Islamabad in November 2016.

"Bangladesh remains steadfast in its commitment to regional co-operation but believes these can only go frwd in more congenial atmosphere. In view of the above, Bangladesh is unable to participate in the proposed Summit in Islamabad."

Bhutan also opted out of the summit saying it, "expresses concern over the recent escalation of terrorism in the region, which seriously compromises the environment for the successful holding of the 19th SAARC Summit in Islamabad in November. Bhutan shares the concerns of some of SAARC countries on the deterioration of regional peace and security due to terrorism. Bhutan joins other SAARC countries in conveying its inability to participate in the SAARC Summit, under the current circumstances."


Afghanistan has cited similar reasons for pulling out of the summit, which means the summit cannot take place even if one country withdraws.


The Indian government has blamed "cross-border terror attacks" for creating an environment that is "not conducive" for the meeting of the eight-nation group.