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India's FM Jaishankar Arrives in Pakistan for SCO Summit After a Decade
India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar visits Pakistan for the first time in nearly 10 years to attend the 23rd SCO summit.
ND
by News Desk
2024-10-15
India's FM Jaishankar Arrives in Pakistan for SCO Summit After a Decade

India’s Minister for External Affairs, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, arrived in Pakistan on Tuesday, marking the first high-level visit from India in nearly a decade. The visit comes as Pakistan is set to host the 23rd Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Islamabad, which will begin on Wednesday, October 16.

 

The SCO, an important regional organization, includes major powers such as China, India, Russia, and Pakistan, as well as several Central Asian countries like Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. The organization also includes Iran and Belarus as new members, with 16 other nations participating as observers or dialogue partners. Pakistan became a full member of the SCO in 2017, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will preside over this year's summit as Chair of the Council of Heads of Government (CHG).

 

Upon his arrival, Jaishankar was received by the Director General for South Asia at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ilyas Mehmood Nizami, along with other senior Pakistani officials at the Nur Khan Airbase. Images of the Indian minister being welcomed were aired on state-run television PTV, showing the momentous occasion for both nations, given the long diplomatic hiatus.

 

Jaishankar is expected to attend the SCO proceedings but has made it clear that his visit will not involve discussions on bilateral relations with Pakistan. India’s foreign ministry confirmed that Jaishankar would only represent India in the summit and reaffirmed that the country "remains actively engaged in the SCO format."

 

The Indian minister's visit comes amid heightened tensions in the region. Recently, an explosion near Karachi's Jinnah International Airport killed three people, including a Chinese citizen, prompting concerns over the security of the SCO summit. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif personally assured China that investigations into the incident would be handled with utmost diligence.

 

PPP Chairman and former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari confirmed that under the rules of the SCO, bilateral issues will not be discussed during the summit. He also refrained from commenting in detail on the recent accusations against India regarding its situation with Canada, stating that Pakistan would uphold its tradition of respecting the dignity of its guests.

 

Alongside Jaishankar, high-ranking officials from various SCO member states have also started arriving in Islamabad. Chinese Premier Li Qiang, in Pakistan for the first time in 11 years, is one of the most notable attendees. Representatives from Russia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Iran, and Turkmenistan have already landed in the capital.

 

The summit's programme, released by Pakistan's foreign ministry, outlines that Wednesday's session will begin with a welcome ceremony and group photos. Prime Minister Shehbaz will open the proceedings with his remarks, followed by statements from other participating countries. A key event will be the signing of several important documents, after which Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and SCO Secretary General Zhang Ming will address the media.

 

Due to the high-profile nature of the summit, security in Islamabad and Rawalpindi has been significantly enhanced. More than 10,000 security personnel have been deployed to ensure the safety of over 900 foreign delegates. The army and paramilitary forces have taken up positions around key government buildings, especially within the capital’s Red Zone, where the majority of delegates are staying. Businesses and roads in the vicinity have been temporarily closed to prevent any disruptions during the summit.

 

The government has arranged accommodation for the delegations across 14 secure locations in Islamabad, with over 120 vehicles being utilized for the official motorcades. Despite the stringent security measures, the arrival of top officials from SCO member states is being seen as an opportunity for Pakistan to showcase its leadership role in the region.
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Pakistan

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Diplomacy

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RegionalCooperation

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