Which country was scheduled to host the 19th SAARC Summit planned for November 2016 but later postponed?

Introduction / Context:
This question concerns regional cooperation in South Asia through the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, commonly known as SAARC. Summits are hosted by member countries in rotation and are important for discussing trade, security, and development issues. The 19th SAARC Summit, scheduled for November 2016, became notable because it was postponed after several countries decided not to attend. Knowing which country was to host that summit is part of regional political awareness.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The 19th SAARC Summit was planned for November 2016.
• It was postponed after some members withdrew.
• The options for the host country are Nepal, Bhutan, India, and Pakistan.
• We assume knowledge of SAARC membership and the normal summit rotation process.

Concept / Approach:
The 19th SAARC Summit was scheduled to be held in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. Following tensions and security concerns, India and some other member states announced that they would not attend, leading to the postponement of the summit. Nepal, Bhutan, and India have hosted earlier summits but were not the designated hosts for the 2016 meeting. Therefore, the correct answer is Pakistan, which was to serve as the host country before the event was called off.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that SAARC summits rotate among member countries. Step 2: Remember that the 19th SAARC Summit was scheduled for Islamabad in Pakistan in November 2016. Step 3: Note that rising tensions led India and some other countries to pull out, resulting in postponement. Step 4: From the given options, select Pakistan as the host country that had been scheduled for this summit.

Verification / Alternative check:
Media coverage and official SAARC related communications from 2016 consistently identify Islamabad, Pakistan, as the planned venue for the 19th SAARC Summit. Reports also mention that India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Bhutan decided not to attend, citing concerns that led to postponement. There is no reference to any other member country having been designated as host for this particular summit, confirming Pakistan as the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Nepal is a SAARC member and has hosted summits in the past, but not the planned 19th summit of 2016. Bhutan, while a member, was not the scheduled host for this meeting. India has hosted several summits at other times, but in this specific case it was among the countries boycotting the summit, not the host. Therefore, none of these options match the description provided in the question.

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates may confuse different summit numbers or years and choose a country that hosted an earlier SAARC meeting. Others may associate SAARC primarily with India and Nepal and select one of them without recalling the specific controversy surrounding the 2016 summit in Pakistan. To avoid such errors, it is useful to connect summit numbers with their venues and notable events.

Final Answer:
The 19th SAARC Summit planned for November 2016 was scheduled to be hosted by Pakistan.