ISLAMABAD – India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Tuesday arrived in Islamabad to participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Government meeting from October 15 to 16.
Jaishankar’s visit marks a rare high-level diplomatic interaction between the two neighboring countries, which have experienced strained relations in recent years. This is 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.
Pakistan is hosting the two-day meeting of SCO from today while it will be presided over by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The SCO member states will be represented by Prime Ministers of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan as well as First Vice President of Iran and External Affairs Minister of India. Premier of State Council of China Li Qiang will represent his country.
The prime minister of Mongolia as Observer State and deputy chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan as Special Guest will also participate in the meeting.
