India has sought the de-recognition of the SAARC Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Islamabad, lodging a strong protest against the body for inviting Chaudhary Muhammad Saeed, minister of the disputed Kashmir Region, to the SAARC Charter Day celebrations on Sunday.
"We have written a letter to SAARC Secretariat to de-recognize SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry", a government official privy to the development told Sputnik.
The regional grouping has been fraught with differences among members especially after the terror attack on the Indian military's Uri camp in 2016 by terrorists, who allegedly infiltrated from Pakistan. The 19th summit of SAARC was to be held in Islamabad that year, but was called off after India refused to take part. The summit has since not taken place, despite members exerting pressure on New Delhi to resume the process.
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On Tuesday, Pakistan Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua reiterated that India, by refusing to attend the SAARC summit in Islamabad, is holding the regional body's summit process "hostage".
India, on its part, continues to maintain that it will not take part in the SAARC Summit unless Pakistan stops allowing terrorists to use its soil.
"Unless and until Pakistan stops terrorist activities in India there will be no dialogue and we will not participate in SAARC," Indian Foreign Minister Swaraj said at a press conference in Hyderabad recently.