Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is visiting Pakistan to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit. During his visit, he ruled out any talks between India and Pakistan, emphasizing that it is a multilateral event.
Jaishankar acknowledged that his trip to Pakistan would draw significant media attention due to the countries’ relationship, but clarified that he is not there for discussions on bilateral issues. “This trip is for a multilateral event. I am not going to discuss India-Pakistan relations. I will participate as a good member of the SCO,” he stated. He added, “As a humble and decent man, I will behave accordingly.”
Notably, Pakistan will host the SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG) meeting on October 15 and 16. Jaishankar elaborated, “I will be in Pakistan for the SCO Heads of State meeting this month. Typically, the Prime Minister attends high-level meetings. This year, the meeting takes place in Islamabad as it is a new member of the group, just like us.”
Jaishankar addressed the SCO’s challenges in realizing its aspirations, indirectly criticizing Pakistan for its alleged support of terrorism. “Terrorism is unacceptable. Despite global consensus on this issue, one of our neighbors continues to support it, leading to consequences. Business cannot proceed as usual in this context, which is why SAARC meetings have stalled in recent years.”
However, he noted that regional activities haven’t ceased. “In the past 5-6 years, we’ve seen greater regional integration in the Indian subcontinent. If you examine our relations with Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka, you will notice restored railway lines, rebuilt roads, and developed power grids.”