In a significant diplomatic development, India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar is set to visit Pakistan to participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Government meeting. The summit, which will be hosted in Islamabad, is scheduled for October 15 and 16, 2024.
Jaishankar’s visit marks a rare high-level diplomatic interaction between the two neighboring countries, which have experienced strained relations in recent years. This will be the first time in nearly a decade that an Indian minister of this rank will attend an official event in Pakistan.
The SCO, an eight-member Eurasian political, economic, and security organization, plays a critical role in regional diplomacy, with key member states including China, Russia, India, and Pakistan. The Council of Heads of Government meeting is an essential platform for member nations to discuss economic and developmental cooperation.
Jaishankar’s participation in the Islamabad summit underscores India’s continued commitment to multilateral forums despite bilateral tensions. However, no formal talks between Indian and Pakistani officials outside the scope of the SCO agenda have been announced.
The upcoming meeting is seen as an opportunity for both nations to contribute to regional stability and economic collaboration within the framework of the SCO, though geopolitical dynamics between India and Pakistan remain sensitive.
