Indian Minister for External Affairs, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, has arrived in Pakistan to participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, marking the first visit by an Indian foreign minister to the country in nearly a decade.
The summit, hosted in Islamabad, is the 23rd meeting of the SCO’s Council of Heads of Government (CHG) and is seen as a significant diplomatic event amid the ongoing tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
Jaishankar joins a gathering of nearly a dozen high-ranking officials and leaders from SCO member states, including Russia, China, Iran, and Central Asian countries. Despite the historical significance of the visit, both India and Pakistan have made it clear that no bilateral meeting between Jaishankar and his Pakistani counterparts is scheduled.
Islamabad has gone to great lengths to ensure the event proceeds smoothly, with heightened security measures in place and the federal capital receiving a facelift with decorations, flags, and banners from the participating nations. A three-day public holiday has been announced, with schools and businesses closed as large contingents of police and paramilitary forces have been deployed.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will preside over the summit, which is the highest-profile international event Pakistan has hosted in recent years. The meeting brings together heads of government and top officials from SCO members, including Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Iran.
Jaishankar’s arrival was met with a red-carpet reception, reflecting the importance of the event and the significance of his visit. Other dignitaries, including Turkmenistan’s Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Rashid Meredov, Tajikistan’s Prime Minister Kohir Rasulzoda, and Kyrgyz Prime Minister Akylbek Japarov, were also warmly welcomed by Pakistani officials, further underscoring the event’s diplomatic importance.
The summit has seen Islamabad transformed with colorful lights and floral decorations, as children dressed in traditional attire greeted foreign dignitaries with bouquets upon arrival. Earlier, Chinese Premier Li Qiang was also welcomed ahead of the summit, as Pakistan seeks to strengthen regional ties through multilateral cooperation.
This SCO summit is expected to focus on enhancing regional cooperation in areas such as trade, economic integration, and security, as well as fostering cultural exchanges. As Pakistan assumes the chairmanship of the SCO CHG for the next year, the event is seen as a major opportunity to enhance its role in regional and global politics.
