S Jaishankar being welcomed by senior Pakistani officials after landing at Islamabad’s Nur Khan airbase. (Photo: X/@DrSJaishankar)
New Delhi: India’s foreign minister, S Jaishankar, arrived in Islamabad for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Government meeting, on Tuesday. This marks the first visit by an Indian foreign minister to Pakistan in nearly a decade, which reflects the importance of this summit in forging regional cooperation and dialogue.
Jaishankar’s visit to Pakistan is primarily to participate in the SCO summit, which is scheduled for October 15 and 16. The SCO is a major Eurasian political, economic, and security alliance that includes members, like China, Russia, India, and Pakistan. The meeting aims to discuss cooperation in areas such as economy, trade, environment, and socio-cultural linkages, as well as to review the progress and performance of the SCO.
This summit also comes amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict and regional war looming over the Middle East. This also comes amid heightened US-China tensions over Taiwan. Apart from this, India’s own bilateral ties with Pakistan and China are strained due to Islamabad’s continuous sponsoring of cross-border terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir and Beijing’s encroachment into India territory in Ladakh.
After landing at the Nur Khan airbase in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, Jaishankar received a warm welcome from senior Pakistani officials, including Ilyas Mehmood Nizami, the director general for South Asia at the country’s foreign ministry. The reception was a colourful affair, with children dressed in traditional attire presenting bouquets to the visiting dignitaries.
Landed in Islamabad to take part in SCO Council of Heads of Government Meeting. pic.twitter.com/PQ4IFPZtlp
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) October 15, 2024
In the evening, Jaishankar attended a dinner hosted by Pakistan’s prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif. The dinner, organized for the SCO delegates, offered a platform for informal interactions and set the tone for the upcoming discussions.
The warm hospitality and cordial atmosphere at the dinner is seen as a positive sign for a constructive dialogue despite the prevailing tensions between India and Pakistan and India and China.
ON Wednesday, Jaishankar is expected to engage in key diplomatic talks and participate in discussions on various regional and international issues. However, it’s clear that there will be no formal bilateral talks with Pakistan’s foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, or prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif. The focus remains firmly on the SCO’s multilateral agenda.
Jaishankar’s stay in Pakistan will be brief, lasting less than 24 hours.
India’s participation in the SCO summit highlights New Delhi’s eagerness to strengthen economic and security ties with other SCO member states and to address common challenges such as terrorism, climate change, and economic development. Furthermore, India has already stated that it aims to enhance its strategic partnerships within the SCO framework and contribute to regional stability and prosperity.
Jaishankar’s visit to Pakistan, even amid strained bilateral relations with its northern and western neighbours, signifies India’s willingness to engaging with regional platforms like the SCO to promote peace, stability, and cooperation.
