Sri Lanka supports Pakistan for SAARC summit in Islamabad despite strong pressure from India: Officials
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COLOMBO - Sri Lanka will support Pakistan in holding the SAARC summit in Islamabad despite strong resistance from India.
Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has promised to support Pakistan's bid to host the next South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) summit, read a Foreign Office statement issued on Wednesday.
In a meeting with Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua, Sirisena said that the trade body must be strengthened in order to enhance regional cooperation.
Last year, the Saarc summit was scheduled to be held in Pakistan, however, it had to be cancelled after India refused to attend the meeting.
Janjua is in Colombo along with a Pakistani delegation to hold the fifth round of bilateral political consultations with Sri Lanka. She will also launch the Pakistan Alumni Society of Sri Lanka during her stay.
