New Delhi, Oct 2 (DHNS) : Even as the Saarc summit, proposed to be held in Islamabad, got postponed, India will host leaders of four of the bloc’s eight members in Goa this month.

Goa is set to see on October 15 and 16 next an assembly of the leaders of five of the Saarc’s eight members — India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Sri Lanka. New Delhi is set to utilise the opportunity to further underscore the isolation of Pakistan in and around South Asia.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be joined by Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Nepal’s Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Sirisena and Bhutan’s Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay in Goa, sources told the DH in New Delhi.

New Delhi got support from Bangladesh, Bhutan and Sri Lanka after it decided to boycott the 19th Saarc summit, which was proposed to be held on November 9 and 10, citing continued anti-India terrorism emanating from territories under control of Pakistan.

Nepal, being the current chair of the Saarc, did not openly support India, but tacitly indicated that it shared the view of most of the bloc’s members. Afghanistan and Maldives also tacitly supported India.

India is likely to use the assembly of the leaders in Goa to once again underscore the need for stepping up counterterrorism cooperation among the countries in the region, added the sources.

Hasina, Sirisena, Dahal and Tobgay will take part in a BRICS-Bimstec outreach meeting in Goa. Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is also likely to attend the BRICS outreach meeting with the Bimstec (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) leaders.