Condemning the assassination of Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, Pakistan Saturday postponed a meeting of the South Asian grouping, SAARC, which was slated for August 16-18 in Islamabad, according to DPA. "The government of Pakistan strongly condemns this dastardly act of terrorism," Pakistani Foreign minister Khurhid Mehmood Kasuri said in a statement issued in Islamabad. He said the slain Sri Lankan leader would always be remembered as a "leading statesman and as a good friend of Pakistan". Kasuri also announced a meeting between the foreign secretaries of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) member countries had been postponed. Pakistan currently chairs the SAARC, which was established in 1985 to promote economic and social cooperation between members Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Pakistan, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka. "New dates for the meetings will be announced later in consultations with the member countries," Kasuri said, recalling the slain foreign minister's contribution to strengthening the SAARC process.
