Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will visit Pakistan on October 15-16 to attend a crucial meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). This meeting will be of the SCO’s Council of Heads of Government (CHG), with Pakistan chairing it this time. Jaishankar’s participation is significant because it marks the first time in nine years that an Indian minister will visit Pakistan. The last visit by an Indian minister was in December 2015, when then-External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj traveled to Pakistan. Since then, relations between India and Pakistan have been tense, with no Indian minister visiting the country.
The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, confirmed the visit, clarifying that it symbolizes India’s commitment to the SCO Charter. He said, “India is fully committed to the SCO Charter, and the primary purpose of the Foreign Minister’s visit is to fulfill obligations under this charter.” He further stressed that this visit should not be seen as an attempt to improve bilateral relations between India and Pakistan, emphasizing that the trip is solely within the context of the SCO and should not be interpreted politically.
Pakistan had extended invitations to all member nations for this SCO meeting. In August 2024, Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesperson, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, announced that an official invitation had been sent to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well. This sparked speculation about a potential visit by Modi to Pakistan. However, S. Jaishankar made it clear that the time for dialogue with Pakistan had passed, stating, “The time for talks with Pakistan is over.” He also added that since the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu & Kashmir, the issue no longer exists, and India is not in a position to consider any relationship with Pakistan.
Both India and Pakistan are members of the SCO, and officials from both nations have participated in meetings under this organization. In July 2023, India hosted a virtual SCO summit, where Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif participated online. Additionally, in May 2023, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari attended the SCO Foreign Ministers’ meeting held in Goa, marking a rare occasion of a visit to India. However, tensions between the two nations were evident even then.
The SCO was established in 2001 and is known for discussions on security, economic cooperation, and cultural exchange. The organization has eight permanent members: China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. India and Pakistan became permanent members in 2017. Bilateral relations between India and Pakistan have always been tense, with issues like terrorism, Jammu & Kashmir, and border tensions complicating ties. Despite this, platforms like the SCO are important as they offer opportunities for officials from both countries to come together.
