File picture of Exterior Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar | Picture credit score: ANI
Exterior Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar landed in Islamabad, Pakistan on Tuesday (October 15, 2024) to attend a conclave of the Shanghai Cooperation Group (SCO), within the first go to to Pakistan by a senior Indian minister in years.
Mr. Jaishankar was acquired on the Nur Khan air base by senior Pakistani officers.
It’s the first time in almost 9 years that India’s Exterior Affairs Minister has traveled to Pakistan whilst ties between the 2 neighbors stay frosty over the Kashmir situation and cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan.
The final Overseas Minister of India to go to Pakistan was Sushma Swaraj. He had traveled to Islamabad in December 2015 to attend a convention on Afghanistan.
SCO Islamabad Preview by Suhasini Haidar
A preview of what India can anticipate when S. Jaishankar attends the 2024 SCO summit in Islamabad | Video credit score: The Hindu
Earlier within the day, India mentioned it continues to actively take part in varied SCO mechanisms.
Pakistan will host the two-day SCO Council of Heads of Authorities (CHG) summit on October 15-16.
“The SCO CHG assembly is held yearly and focuses on the commerce and financial agenda of the Group,” the Ministry of Exterior Affairs (MEA) mentioned.
“Exterior Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will symbolize India on the assembly. India continues to actively take part within the SCO format, together with varied mechanisms and initiatives inside the SCO framework,” he mentioned in a quick assertion on New Delhi.
Within the night, Jaishankar is prone to attend a banquet to be hosted by Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to welcome delegates from SCO member international locations, individuals accustomed to the matter mentioned.
Each side have already dominated out any bilateral talks between Jaishankar and his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar on the sidelines of the SCO heads of presidency summit.
Mr. Jaishankar’s go to to Pakistan assumes significance as it’s seen as an vital choice by New Delhi.
In his latest speech at an occasion, Jaishankar mentioned that “like several neighbor, India would definitely wish to have good relations with Pakistan.”
“However that can’t occur by overlooking cross-border terrorism and permitting ourselves to get our hopes up.”
The choice to ship the chief minister is seen as an indication of India’s dedication to the SCO.
Revealed – October 15, 2024 04:48 pm IST