India continues to maintain its active participation within the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), reaffirming its commitment to the regional grouping. Just hours before External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar was scheduled to arrive in Islamabad, Pakistan, to attend the two-day SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG) summit on October 15-16, 2024, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi reiterated this engagement. The visit will mark a significant diplomatic moment, as it is the first time in nearly a decade that an Indian foreign minister will be visiting Pakistan.
The SCO CHG meeting, held annually, is primarily focused on the trade and economic agenda of the organization. “External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will represent India at the meeting. India remains actively engaged in the SCO format, including various mechanisms and initiatives within the SCO framework,” the MEA stated in a brief statement ahead of Jaishankar’s arrival.
Despite ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan, this visit underscores India’s commitment to the SCO and its engagement with regional multilateral platforms. Pakistan is hosting this year’s summit under its rotating chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of Government, with the agenda likely to focus on issues such as economic cooperation, trade, and regional security.
A Diplomatic move Amid strained relations
Jaishankar’s visit will be the first by an Indian foreign minister to Pakistan in nearly nine years, coming against the backdrop of strained relations between the two countries over various issues, including the Kashmir conflict and cross-border terrorism. The last Indian foreign minister to visit Pakistan was Sushma Swaraj, who attended a regional conference on Afghanistan in December 2015.
Given the ongoing tensions, both India and Pakistan have already ruled out any possibility of bilateral talks between Jaishankar and his Pakistani counterpart, Ishaq Dar, on the sidelines of the SCO summit. However, sources suggest that they are likely to exchange pleasantries during official events, including a banquet reception hosted by Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to welcome the SCO delegates.
Jaishankar’s visit is significant, as it highlights India’s diplomatic approach of maintaining regional engagement despite bilateral issues. In a recent address, Jaishankar remarked that while India seeks good relations with its neighbors, including Pakistan, such relations are only possible if the issue of cross-border terrorism is addressed. “That cannot happen by overlooking cross-border terrorism and indulging in wishful thinking,” he emphasized, setting a clear expectation for future Indo-Pak relations.
Historical context of strained ties
India and Pakistan have experienced severely strained relations in recent years, particularly following the February 2019 Pulwama terror attack, which led to India’s airstrike on a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist camp in Balakot, Pakistan. Tensions escalated further after India revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019, which Pakistan responded to by downgrading diplomatic ties.
While the relationship remains tense, India has consistently maintained its stance of wanting “normal neighborly relations” with Pakistan. However, it insists that the responsibility lies with Islamabad to create a conducive environment free of terrorism and hostility for any meaningful engagement.
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SCO: A platform for multilateral cooperation
India’s participation in the SCO underscores its broader regional interests and its commitment to multilateralism. The SCO, which includes China, Russia, and several Central Asian nations, has been an important platform for India to engage with regional powers on issues of economic cooperation, security, and counterterrorism. India joined the organization as a full member in 2017, and it has since taken an active role in various initiatives within the SCO framework.
Earlier this year, in May 2023, Pakistan’s then-foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari visited India to attend the SCO Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Goa. That visit was the first by a Pakistani foreign minister to India in over 12 years, marking a rare moment of face-to-face interaction between the two countries despite the broader diplomatic freeze.
Looking forward
Jaishankar’s participation in the SCO summit in Islamabad is expected to be brief, lasting less than 24 hours. However, the visit symbolizes India’s commitment to the SCO process and its willingness to engage in multilateral formats even when bilateral relations with certain members, like Pakistan, remain difficult.
The SCO CHG summit will focus on discussions around economic cooperation and regional security, crucial areas for all member states, including India. While no direct dialogue between India and Pakistan is expected, the summit offers an important opportunity for both countries to engage within a structured multilateral framework, emphasizing the need for continued engagement in regional issues.
