The Saarc Summit set to be held in Islamabad in November has been postponed indefinitely, the Pakistani government announced on Friday, hours after Sri Lanka announced its decision not to attend.

Overall, India and four other member states of the regional grouping decided against attending the meet. India’s decision was followed by Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Bhutan. Sri Lanka pulled out of the SAARC Summit on Friday, becoming the fifth country to do so.

The Saarc member states include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, the Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka on Friday expressed its unwillingness to attend the upcoming SAARC Summit saying that the prevailing environment in the region was not conducive to holding the summit.

In a statement, the Lankan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the SAARC Charter required that decisions at all levels were taken on the basis of unanimity, and this applied to the convening of meetings of heads of state or government of SAARC member states as well.

Sri Lanka's decision to boycott was particularly surprising given the longstanding friendship between it and Pakistan.