India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar is scheduled to visit Pakistan on October 15-16, 2024, for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) ‘Heads of Government’ meeting. This marks a significant diplomatic engagement, especially given the strained relations between India and Pakistan over recent years. The SCO meeting, hosted by Pakistan in its capacity as the current chair of the bloc, will focus on fostering regional cooperation in areas such as economic development, security, and political stability.
Jaishankar’s visit to Islamabad is particularly notable as it will be his first to Pakistan since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power in 2014. The visit follows an invitation extended by Pakistan to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in August 2024, though Modi will not attend personally. Despite the historical tensions between the two countries, India has continued to engage with the SCO due to the organization’s importance in geopolitical and economic matters involving key regional players like China and Russia.
This meeting will bring together representatives from all SCO member nations, including India, China, Russia, and Pakistan, as well as Central Asian countries. The summit will focus on a wide array of regional issues, including security cooperation, counterterrorism, and economic collaboration. Jaishankar’s participation underscores India’s commitment to multilateral diplomacy even amid difficult bilateral relations with Pakistan.
Relations between India and Pakistan have seen significant ups and downs over the years, and this visit is expected to draw international attention, given the complex geopolitical landscape. The last time an Indian foreign minister visited Pakistan for a significant regional event was during the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) meeting in 2016, which was eventually canceled after India’s withdrawal. Since then, diplomatic engagement between the two nations has been limited to multilateral forums like the SCO.
With Pakistan facing internal political challenges and ongoing economic struggles, this meeting could also provide an opportunity for wider regional cooperation, especially with Pakistan being keen on economic support from its neighbors and partners within the SCO framework.
The SCO, originally founded by China, Russia, and four Central Asian nations in 2001, has expanded to include India and Pakistan as full members in 2017. The organization focuses on regional security, economic cooperation, and political dialogue. Jaishankar’s visit to Islamabad will aim to emphasize India’s role in regional stability and to foster cooperation within the Eurasian region despite existing bilateral challenges with Pakistan.
In summary, Jaishankar’s visit to Pakistan for the SCO summit signifies the importance of multilateral diplomacy in South Asia. It will be closely watched for any signs of easing tensions between India and Pakistan, especially as both countries continue to navigate their roles in a complex global and regional environment(Business Today)
