Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said that his country was ready to convene the 19th Summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) at the earliest. 

He further added that India can join it virtually if the leadership in New Delhi is not willing to visit Islamabad. The 19th SAARC Summit which was scheduled to take place in Islamabad on November 9-10, 2016 was postponed indefinitely due to India-Pakistan tensions.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad on January 3, the Pakistani foreign minister accused India of making SAARC dysfunctional through its stubbornness by refusing to come to Islamabad for the Summit meeting.

"I reiterate the invitation for the 19th SAARC summit. If India is not ready to come to Islamabad, it can join virtually… but it should not stop others from attending,” he said.

For five years, India has stated that the regional environment is not appropriate for holding the Summit. SAARC chair Nepal is also pressing other member countries for holding the summit.