Pak has been isolated due to its own policies: MEA

October 17, 2016 18:04

In the wake of several SAARC nations coming out in support of New Delhi following the Uri attack and the subsequent cancellation of the bloc's summit in Islamabad, India on Monday said Pakistan has been isolated due to its own policies and it has nothing to do with it.

"If someone has been isolated, it is due to the country's own policies. India has had nothing to do with it," External Affairs Ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup said at a press briefing after the 8th BRICS Summit in Goa.

He was asked whether India had embarked on a drive to isolate Pakistan after the Pathankot attack as the decision to hold the BIMSTEC Summit alongside the BRICS Summit was taken in April itself.

"All SAARC nations unitedly said the SAARC Summit cannot take place in Islamabad in an atmosphere of terror," Swarup said.

India stepped up efforts to mount international pressure on Pakistan after the September 18 Uri attack, in which 19 Indian soldiers were killed by terrorists with links to Pak-based Jaish-e-Mohammed.

Several SAARC member states subsequently decided to call-off the bloc's summit which was to be held in Islamabad last month.

Swarup said Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Maldives were quick to condemn the attacks. They stressed that a "constructive dialogue" cannot take place in such an atmosphere.

However, he declined to comment on Sartaz Aziz's comments after the sharp criticism by the Prime Minister on Sunday, saying he will give a reaction at his weekly press briefing as India had not had a bilateral with Pakistan like with countries from the BIMSTEC bloc.

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