Talking to reporters yesterday, Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan said India has agreed to attend the summit on November 12-13 while other member states have already given their green signal to attend it anytime.

He mentioned that Indian External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh telephoned him on Friday night and expressed India's readiness to attend the summit on the proposed dates in November.

Morshed said he welcomed India's decision and requested Singh to convey it to Saarc Chair Pakistan.

Singh telephoned him after discussion with the Indian prime minister, Morshed said. "I met Singh several times during a recent summit in Indonesia when he told me he would inform him (of India's decision) after talks with his prime minister."

Morshed said he had talks with Pakistan several times about the summit, and it sought two tentative dates. "We then proposed November 12-13 as our first preference considering the weather, and also September3- 4. But we have lots of business in September, and emphasised November 12-13."

Pakistan also pledged all cooperation to Bangladesh in hosting the summit, he mentioned.

Asked why Dhaka proposed holding of the summit so late (almost after seven months from now), the foreign minister said, "We need much time because we have to start preparations afresh, ranging from accommodation to security."

The weather in Bangladesh is also not suitable for such a summit before November. Moreover, the prime minister has a series of foreign trips and preoccupations at home and abroad in May, June, July and September. The Ramadan is in October and the PM may go to Saudi Arabia during the holy month, he pointed out.

Considering all these things and after discussion with the member states, Dhaka proposed November 12-13 as suitable date for the summit, postponed twice, first due to tsunami and then for reasons known to all, he said.

The summit was first scheduled for January 9-11 but was postponed due to tsunami in member states Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Then it was slated for February 6-7 but was postponed due to India's refusal to attend on 'security situation in Bangladesh' and political situation in Nepal.

Dhaka reacted angrily when New Delhi declined to attend the summit blaming 'security' in Bangladesh although the government ensured fool-proof security and completed all preparations.

In reply to a question, Morshed said, "I think two days are sufficient for the summit events and business. We will welcome the heads of state and government a day before the summit. If they want they can stay in Bangladesh even after the summit."

The foreign minister said he had talks with the Nepalese king and also the king of Bhutan earlier. They expressed their readiness to attend the summit anytime. Sri Lanka and the Maldives said they had already overcome tsunami aftermath and were ready to attend the summit on the date to be announced.

Turning to the attack on Bangladesh embassy in Kuwait, the foreign minister said he is yet to receive a report from the committee probing it.

"But we have identified eight to nine people and got their names. Subsequently, the Kuwaiti police also arrested around eight to nine Bangladeshis, who led the attack. We will take steps on the basis of the inquiry committee report," he added.

He condemned the killing of a Bangladeshi peacekeeper in Congo and wounding several others. Bangladesh will not withdraw its peacekeepers from Congo as "we are committed to global peace," he said.