Indian FM to visit Pakistan for first time since 2015 for SCO Summit

On Friday evening, October 5th, the Indian government announced that External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar would travel to Pakistan to participate in a China-led meeting.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson noted that no high-ranking official has visited Pakistan since 2015.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that Jaishankar would attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting in Pakistan on behalf of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, mentioned that the Indian foreign minister might meet his Pakistani counterpart during the visit to discuss bilateral relations.

Indian officials recalled that the last time an Indian foreign minister visited Pakistan was in 2015 when Sushma Swaraj attended the Heart of Asia conference.

Leaders from Russia, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan will attend the SCO meeting, which is scheduled for October 15th in Islamabad.

This meeting marks a significant diplomatic event. It is the first high-level engagement between India and Pakistan in years, potentially opening doors for future dialogue between the two nations.

Relations between India and Pakistan have not normalized since both countries gained independence from Great Britain in 1947. The two nations have experienced ongoing tensions, especially concerning territorial disputes over Kashmir.

Jaishankar’s participation in the SCO summit comes amid strained relations, but the international platform may offer an opportunity for both countries to discuss common challenges and regional stability.

The Kashmir issue continues to be a point of contention, with neither side showing signs of compromise, yet diplomatic meetings like the SCO summit may create avenues for easing tensions.

Pakistan and India remain critical players in South Asia, and the world will be watching closely to see if this high-level engagement leads to any tangible improvements in their strained relationship.

The SCO meeting in Islamabad provides a rare opportunity for India and Pakistan to dialogue, even as the two nations navigate complex historical and territorial issues.

While expectations for a breakthrough in India-Pakistan relations remain tempered, Jaishankar’s visit to Pakistan signals a willingness to engage diplomatically, offering hope for future regional cooperation.

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