India’s Foreign Minister to Visit Pakistan for First Time Since 2015
Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will be visiting Pakistan later this month to attend a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), marking the first high-level Indian visit to Pakistan in almost a decade. This move signals a rare diplomatic engagement between the two neighboring countries, which have seen strained relations over the past several years.
A Significant Diplomatic Gesture
The announcement was made by India’s Ministry of External Affairs, stating that Jaishankar will lead the Indian delegation at the SCO summit scheduled to be held in Pakistan from October 15 to 16. His visit is seen as a significant diplomatic step, given the history of tensions and limited direct engagement between the two nations.
Jaishankar’s visit comes after his Pakistani counterpart attended a similar meeting of SCO foreign ministers in India last year, making it the first high-level Pakistani political visit to India since 2011.
India-Pakistan Relations and the SCO
India and Pakistan joined the SCO in 2017, making them full members of the Central Asian political and economic union that was established by China, Russia, and four Central Asian countries in 2001. The SCO aims to enhance security, economic cooperation, and stability in the region, serving as a counterbalance to Western alliances such as NATO.
The last time an Indian foreign minister visited Pakistan was in 2015, when the then External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj attended a security conference in Islamabad and held rare talks with Pakistani officials. Since then, relations have been marked by periods of heightened tensions, particularly over the disputed Kashmir region.
The Context of the Visit
While this visit will not involve bilateral talks outside of the SCO agenda, it still holds importance as it provides a platform for discussions in a multilateral setting. India and Pakistan have fought three wars since gaining independence from British rule in 1947, and diplomatic ties have remained fragile.
India chaired the SCO summit in 2023, and now it’s Pakistan’s turn to host the key meeting. The gathering is expected to bring together representatives from China, Russia, and other Central Asian countries, allowing regional stakeholders to discuss pressing security and economic issues.
Outlook for India-Pakistan Relations
While Jaishankar’s visit is primarily focused on participating in the SCO summit, it will be closely watched for any signs of thawing tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors. Experts believe the visit could set the stage for more constructive engagement, although the core disputes between the two countries remain unresolved.
The visit marks a rare opportunity for India and Pakistan to engage in dialogue, albeit under a multilateral framework, and the international community will be watching closely to see how both sides navigate this significant diplomatic encounter.
