S Jaishankar's Historic Visit to Pakistan: First Indian Foreign Minister Since 2015

S Jaishankar, India's External Affairs Minister, is set to visit Pakistan for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Government meeting, marking a significant diplomatic engagement after nine years.

P24 News Media

October 04, 2024

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India

Jaishankar to Visit Pakistan for SCO Summit

New Delhi: In a noteworthy diplomatic move, S. Jaishankar, India's External Affairs Minister, will travel to Pakistan later this month to participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Government meeting. This visit is particularly remarkable as it marks the first time an Indian External Affairs Minister has visited Pakistan since Sushma Swaraj's trip in 2015.

The visit is scheduled for October 15 and 16, where Mr. Jaishankar will lead a delegation to Islamabad. According to External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, the visit's purpose is strictly to attend the summit, underscoring the formal nature of this engagement.

Historical Context and Strained Relations

In a previous invitation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had been invited to attend the meeting in August. The decision to send Mr. Jaishankar to Pakistan is significant given the downturn in relations between the two nations, which have been strained since the Pulwama attack in February 2019, followed by India's Balakot air strikes targeting Jaish-e-Mohammed training camps.

Tensions escalated further when Pakistan opposed India's revocation of Article 370, which had previously conferred special status on Jammu and Kashmir. India has consistently criticized Pakistan's interference, reiterating that matters concerning Jammu and Kashmir remain an internal issue.

Jaishankar’s Stand on Pakistan at the UN

Addressing the United Nations General Assembly last week, Mr. Jaishankar cautioned Pakistan about the futility of its cross-border terrorism policies and hinted at the economic difficulties faced by the nation. He highlighted that while some nations fall behind due to uncontrollable circumstances, others, like Pakistan, make decisions leading to negative outcomes that also impact their neighbors.

Commitment to Regional Security

Amidst these challenges, Mr. Jaishankar's attendance at the summit is interpreted as a demonstration of India's commitment to the SCO. The organization has been pivotal in enhancing regional security cooperation. Sushma Swaraj's last visit to Pakistan in 2015 was for a conference focused on Afghanistan, indicative of the SCO's multifaceted role in regional diplomacy.

The Role of SCO

The SCO comprises several influential global players, including China, Russia, alongside Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. It is recognized as a prominent economic and security bloc, being one of the largest transregional international organizations. Founded in 2001 during a summit in Shanghai, the SCO began with six member states and welcomed India and Pakistan as permanent members in 2017 after both countries were granted observer status in 2005.

India notably chaired the SCO in 2023, reflecting its growing influence within the organization. The SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting, which Mr. Jaishankar will be attending, represents the second-highest platform within the SCO, with the Heads of State Summit being the top tier, generally attended by a country's Prime Minister.