December 19, 2002	Thursday	Shawwal 14, 1423

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NEW DELHI: Dec 18: Indian Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha criticised on Wednesday Pakistan’s decision to postpone the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) summit in Islambad, and said New Delhi was ready to take part in it as soon as Islambad worked out the dates.

State-run All India Radio quoted Sinha as telling parliament on Wednesday that Pakistan was to be faulted for postponing the summit.

“India will participate in the Saarc summit as soon as Pakistan works out the dates,” Sinha was quoted as telling the Lok Sabha, lower house of parliament.

Pakistan indefinitely postponed summit proposed for Jan 13, citing lack of interest from India.

Pakistani officials in New Delhi said Islambad would work out the next round of dates once India officially communicated its willingness to participate in the summit, by contacting the Saarc secretariat in Kathmandu and the Pakistan government.—J.N