SAARC Summit to go ahead despite security fears
From Meerza Iqbal Baig

NEW DELHI—South Asian nations — SAARC members — plan to go ahead with a long-delayed summit next month but threats of attacks by militants in the host country, Bangladesh, could still scuttle it.
India, which forced a postponement of the summit in February due to concerns about security in Dhaka, is committed to taking part in the Nov. 12-13 meeting, although fresh violence could cause New Delhi to review its decision, Indian officials said.
“We are constantly monitoring the situation and keeping our fingers crossed,” a senior Indian official said. “As of now, the decision is to go ahead with the summit”.
Pakistan said it would not seek a delay despite its focus on a massive relief effort after this month’s deadly earthquake.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz would represent Pakistan at the summit, a Pakistani spokeswoman said.
Aziz and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh are expected to meet on the sidelines of the summit to discuss the India-Pakistan peace process.
The SAARC summit was originally scheduled for January but was postponed following the Indian Ocean tsunami. It was put off again in February after a former Bangladeshi finance minister was killed in political violence and India then declined to attend.