NEW DELHI (TIP): In the wake of heightened tensions, Pakistan is likely to skip the largest global anti-tobacco conference to be held in India next week. The seventh Conference of Parties (COP) to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) will be attended by delegates from 180 countries.

According to the organisers, Pakistan expressed regret at pulling out of the meeting after invitations were sent to all the member nations and parties.

“As of now, the information we have is that they (Pakistan) will not be able to attend. Of course, if a party like Pakistan says that they cannot participate, we don’t go further and ask why,” said Guangyuan Liu of the FCTC.