The NaMo government has pulled a hard stance against neighbouring Pakistan, ever since the Uri terrorist attack. After pushing forward almost a campaign to boycott the country during the annual SAARC meet, India has now pulled out of a key regional conference on sustainable development being held in Pakistan.
The three day session of the Governing Council of the Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology began in Islamabad on Monday, with an objective to promote innovation for sustainable development and discuss strategy of the APCTT. A media report stated that officials of the ministry of science and technology initially confirmed New Delhi's participation in the conference, later announcing India's decision to pull out. "Just hours before the meeting was due to start, the Indian delegation cancelled their trip saying that their head delegate had contracted food poisoning," an official said.
While such decisions are interpreted as New Delhi's efforts to isolate Pakistan internationally, government officials from the Capital have asked not to read much into India's absence, elaborating that the delegation couldn't attend probably because of scheduling issues. Analysts believe India is trying to isolate Pakistan internationally by staying away from such multilateral engagements hosted by Islamabad. Sources said all 14 member countries of the APCTT were invited, however, India, Bangladesh, and Iran decided not to make their presence.
The governing council which meets once a year, advises Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. The countries attending the meeting are China, Fiji, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Samoa, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.
