NEW DELHI, India - The SAARC summit which was to be held in Islamabad in November this year will be cancelled following India, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan's decision to boycott the summit.

Nepal, Maldives and Sri Lanka, however, remained silent on their participation at the event.

The cancellation was confirmed by Nepal, the current SAARC chair. 

"There is no question of holding the summit if four countries declare their unwillingness to participate. As the current SAARC Chair, Nepal has the responsibility of seeking a solution to such pre-summit disputes, but under the current circumstances nothing much can be attempted. We will do the due formalities and will declare the summit of 2016 should be cancelled due to non-participation of member states," a Kathmandu-based diplomatic source said, according to reports.

India had declared it would not attend the SAARC Summit, a regional meeting of South Asian neighbours, in Islamabad in the wake of the September 18 attack on a military base in Uri, Jammu and Kashmir, by Pakistani terrorists in which 18 personnel lost their lives, the most significant attack on Indian security forces in 14 years.

"Increasing cross-border terrorist attacks in the region and growing interference in the internal affairs of Member States by one country have created an environment that is not conducive to the successful holding of the 19th SAARC Summit," India's foreign ministry said in a statement.

"In the prevailing circumstances, the Government of India is unable to participate in the proposed summit in Islamabad," it added.

Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Bhutan soon also formally conveyed their inability to attend the summit, expressing concern, like India, about cross-border terrorist attacks in the region.

Meanwhile, Pakistan's foreign ministry called India's decision "unfortunate" and said it remained committed to peace and regional cooperation. 

The cancellation of the summit is unprecedented, as four member-states have cited "terrorism" and "imposed violence" while withdrawing from the summit.

India has adopted a tough stance against neighbour Pakistan following the Uri attack, which comes just months after an attack in January on an airbase in Pathankot, Punjab, which was also blamed on Pakistan-based terrorists. 

India summoned the Pakistan high commissioner, who was given the names of the people from the Pakistani side who assisted the militant attack on the army base. 

India is also considering rethinking the crucial Indus water treaty, which involves the sharing of water from six rivers. 

Pakistan has, however, warned India against drawing more water from three northern rivers that flow from India to Pakistan, saying a breach of the treaty would amount to "an act of war."