India’s External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, is set to make a historic visit to Pakistan, attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Government Summit in Islamabad on October 15 and 16. This marks the first time an Indian foreign minister will be traveling to Pakistan since Sushma Swaraj’s visit in 2015 to attend a conference on Afghanistan.
While the visit holds significant diplomatic weight, Jaishankar has clarified that he will not be engaging in bilateral discussions with Pakistan during the summit. “I’m not going there to discuss India-Pakistan relations. I’m going there to be a good member of the SCO,” he stated. He added, “Since I’m a courteous and civil person, I will behave myself accordingly.”
The decision to send Jaishankar to Pakistan, despite strained relations between the two nations, highlights India’s commitment to the SCO, a regional security cooperation organization that has been growing in prominence. The SCO has played a crucial role in fostering regional security cooperation, and India’s participation in the summit is a testament to its commitment to this initiative.
Pakistan, in August, had invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the SCO summit. Jaishankar’s visit, as a senior minister, further underscores India’s commitment to the organization and its role in regional affairs.
Interestingly, the last Pakistani minister to visit India was the former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto, who attended an SCO meeting in Goa in 2023. This marked the first visit of a Pakistani foreign minister to India in almost 12 years.
While the visit might not see direct talks on India-Pakistan relations, it remains a significant event that could pave the way for future dialogue and collaboration between the two nations.
