New Delhi: Bangladesh has indicated that the United Nations should consider declaring Pakistan a "terrorist state" underlining India's argument that Islamabad should be isolated in the global community as a nation that exports terror to rest of world.
"For the first time in the history of SAARC, four out of its eight members have decided to boycott the summit scheduled in Islamabad. This is a very strong message," Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Syed Muazzem Ali told CNN-News18.
He said it was up to Pakistan to decide how it wants to conduct its future foreign policy.
Demanding that Islamabad should stop helping terror groups in Bangladesh and stop interfering in the country, Ali wondered how a meeting for regional cooperation can take place when Pakistan Defence Minister Khwaja M Asif is openly issuing threats of a nuclear attack.
"His statement shows the atmosphere is not right for SAARC. Can't talk about war and nuclear attacks," Ali said.
Bangladesh's official stand toughening its stand on Pakistan comes immediately after India announced it is pulling out of the SAARC meeting in the wake of Uri attacks in which a suspected Jaish-e-Muhammad suicide squad crossed over from across the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir Valley and attacked an Indian Army base killing 18 soldiers.
Along with Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Bhutan have also said they are boycotting the Saarc meet.
"All heads of state have backed India on Uri. Pakistan found no support in UNGA, the country needs to do soul searching," Ali said, arguing that it was time for India and Bangladesh to work with other states and foster closer ties.
On Wednesday, the Wall Street Journal had also said that Pakistan cannot take India's policy of strategic restraint for granted for too long and if Islamabad rejected Prime Minister Narendra Modi's offer of cooperation, it will become part of a case for making the country a "pariah nation".
"Modi is practicing restraint for now, but Islamabad can't rely on that continuing. Modi's offer of cooperation, if rejected, will become part of a case for making Pakistan even more of a pariah nation than it already is," The Wall Street Journal said in an opinion piece.
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