UNITED NATIONS, Sept 26: Indian External Affairs Minister, Yashwant Sinha, reaffirmed on Thursday that India would attend South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) in Islamabad in January.

He made the statement at the Saarc ministerial meeting held on the sidelines of the UNGA session after the Indian Prime Minister rejected Pakistan’s peace offer.

Foreign Minister, Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri, who briefed the meeting about the preparations, observed that “bi-lateral tensions and domestic political considerations should not be allowed to derail Saarc summit.” Mr Kasuri said: “It was imperative in order forge better cooperation”, emphasizing that Saarc countries should also develop mechanism to address the root causes of tensions in the region. “

India this month discouraged Foreign Minister Kasuri from delivering in person an invitation to Mr Vajpayee to a regional summit, saying such a visit was not necessary.