ISLAMABAD, March 27: The twice-postponed 13th Saarc summit is unlikely to be held in near future because of scheduling problems, Dawn has learnt through diplomatic sources. The summit was initially scheduled for Jan 9-11 but later rescheduled for Feb 6-7, 2005. Early this month, Pakistan had proposed dates of April 11-17 for the summit, including days for the preparatory meetings leading up to the event. However, this schedule has been ruled out with President Pervez Musharraf’s planned visit to India on April 16. Chances for the summit to be held later are also slim as the Indian parliament would be in session.

Apparently, Sri Lanka has indicated that after April its participation in the summit would be doubtful due to its prior commitments. In May, the President of Bangladesh is expected to embark on a regional tour that is likely to bring her to Pakistan as well. Afterwards, the weather conditions in Bangladesh would not be favourable for the event.

Diplomats from Saarc states at a reception hosted by the Bangladesh High Commissioner here on Saturday clearly indicated that it was not possible to hold the summit in April. They were of the view that it would now be put off for a long time.

It is learnt that the new Saarc secretary-general was not able to obtain any firm commitment from the Indian leadership for its participation in April or later during his recent visit to New Delhi. In any case with April just around the corner and confirmations still awaited the time for the host country was too short, the sources said.

In September the Saarc leaders would be busy with the UN General Assembly session.

Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri said recently that Pakistan in its capacity as the current Saarc chairman was in the process of consulting the host government and member countries and dates would be announced soon. He told journalists that now all Saarc countries were on board, conveying that India had agreed to attend the summit in Dhaka. Reportedly the commitment was given by the Indian external affairs minister during his visit here last month.

Pakistan would make a formal announcement about the fresh dates as soon as it receives confirmation from all member countries, the sources said, indicating that the government hoped to get a clear-cut commitment from India in this regard during President Musharraf’s visit to New Delhi next month.

The 13th Saarc summit was first postponed due to the tsunami disaster that hit the region and then due to Indian decision to pull out of the summit, citing political developments in Nepal and security concerns in Bangladesh as reasons.

The Indian announcement came when a pre-summit meeting of the programming committee was under way in Dhaka. It caused immense inconvenience to the host country that had made elaborate arrangements for the event.

Saarc rules, tradition and practice require the presence of all seven-member states for the holding of its apex meetings. A summit cannot take place even if one of the seven member states decides to abstain.

Pakistan has called for an early consensus on the Summit dates, underlining the need for strengthening the Saarc process.