Indian FM Jaishankar rejects talks in Pakistan – SCO summit

India’s Minister for External Affairs, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, announced his upcoming visit to Pakistan for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, marking the first such visit in nearly a decade. Despite media interest in the strained relationship between the two countries, Jaishankar emphasized that his discussions during the summit would focus on multilateral issues, not on bilateral relations with Pakistan.

The Indian foreign ministry confirmed Jaishankar’s participation in the summit, set for Oct 15-16, without specifying any meetings with Pakistani leaders. While relations between India and Pakistan have remained frosty since diplomatic ties were downgraded in 2019, both countries have occasionally engaged in multilateral forums like the SCO.

India’s decision to participate in the SCO reflects a delicate balance of regional security goals and caution towards China’s influence within the organization. Despite past boycotts of meetings in Pakistan, India’s engagement in the SCO demonstrates a strategic effort to counterbalance Chinese dominance and foster ties with other Central Asian nations.

Overall, Jaishankar’s visit to Pakistan for the SCO summit underscores the complexities and nuances of regional diplomacy in South Asia, shedding light on India’s cautious approach towards multilateral engagements while navigating its relationships within the broader SCO framework.

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