S. Jaishankar, India’s External Affairs Minister, visited Pakistan for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit hosted in Islamabad. During his visit, he had a brief encounter with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, which lasted less than twenty seconds.
A Brief Greeting
At the official dinner for SCO leaders, the two leaders exchanged a handshake and a courtesy greeting. Their interaction was notably brief, with only a few words spoken. This marks a significant moment, as diplomatic ties between India and Pakistan have been largely dormant for nearly a decade.
Context of the Diplomatic Standoff
The relationship between India and Pakistan has deteriorated over the last ten years, primarily due to multiple terror attacks on Indian military installations by Pakistan-based terrorists in 2015 and 2016. India has consistently emphasized that “terrorism and talks cannot coexist,” insisting that dialogue can only proceed in an environment free of terrorist activities.
A Decade of No Dialogue
Mr. Jaishankar’s visit is historic as it is the first by an Indian foreign minister to Pakistan in almost ten years. The last visit was by Sushma Swaraj, Jaishankar’s predecessor, who attended a conference on Afghanistan in Islamabad. Jaishankar accompanied her during that visit.
Following Swaraj’s trip, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a surprise visit to then-Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, hoping to foster peace. However, subsequent terrorist attacks from Pakistan derailed any progress in talks.
No Bilateral Talks Scheduled
Before arriving in Islamabad, Jaishankar clarified in a New Delhi press conference that his trip was solely for the SCO summit, and no bilateral discussions with Pakistan were planned. He stated, “India would certainly like to have good relations with Pakistan, but that cannot happen by overlooking cross-border terrorism and indulging in wishful thinking.”
The Indian government views Jaishankar’s presence at the SCO Summit as a commitment to the organization rather than a step toward improved relations with Pakistan.
Conclusion
Pakistan is currently hosting the two-day SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG) summit on October 15-16. The SCO CHG meeting focuses on trade and economic agendas within the region, as stated by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).