Islamabad – External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s visit to Islamabad on October 15, 2024, to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Government meeting marked a rare and significant moment in India-Pakistan relations. This was the first visit by an Indian foreign minister to Pakistan in almost a decade, setting the stage for diplomatic engagements at a time when the two countries have largely kept their interactions limited to multilateral forums. Upon his arrival, Jaishankar was received at the Nur Khan airbase by senior Pakistani officials, a gesture that highlighted Islamabad’s attempt to maintain cordiality despite the longstanding tensions. The day’s most notable moment came during a dinner reception hosted by Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, where Jaishankar and Sharif exchanged a warm handshake. The interaction, though brief, was symbolic, given the minimal diplomatic engagement since 2019, when India revoked Article 370, a move that has remained a major point of contention between the two nations. During the SCO meeting on Wednesday, Jaishankar delivered a speech that was notable for its call to action on pressing global issues. He began by acknowledging Pakistan’s role as the current chair of the SCO, stating,He emphasized that these issues, coupled with the lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, call for collective efforts to maintain regional and global stability. The underlying message was clear: cooperation under the SCO framework can help address such challenges, but it must be built on mutual respect.
One of the focal points of Jaishankar’s address was the need to confront terrorism, separatism, and extremism—often referred to as the “three evils” in SCO discussions. Without directly naming Pakistan, Jaishankar pointed out that “If activities across borders are characterized by terrorism, extremism, and separatism, they are hardly likely to encourage trade, energy flows, connectivity, and people-to-people exchanges.” The statement was a subtle but unmistakable reminder of India’s concerns over cross-border terrorism, an issue that has long strained India-Pakistan ties. In the past, Jaishankar has reiterated that meaningful dialogue between India and Pakistan could only take place if there was decisive action against terrorism. During his address, he called for reaffirming the SCO Charter’s commitment to counter these threats.” The message was clear: for the region to thrive, all member states must be uncompromising in their stance against terrorism. Pakistan, which has been grappling with its internal political turmoil, took significant measures to ensure the smooth execution of the summit. Over 10,000 police and paramilitary forces were deployed across Islamabad, and the government declared a three-day public holiday to manage security arrangements. This high-profile gathering saw the attendance of dignitaries from major SCO member states, including Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Belarusian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko, highlighting the platform’s importance for regional dialogue.
For Pakistan, hosting the summit provided a chance to demonstrate its commitment to regional cooperation, even as domestic challenges persisted. The optics of Jaishankar’s participation, however, carried a different weight, subtly underscoring India’s commitment to engage multilaterally without necessarily softening its bilateral stance. Despite Jaishankar’s presence in Islamabad, both Indian and Pakistani officials maintained that no bilateral meetings were scheduled with his counterpart, Ishaq Dar. The informal handshake between Jaishankar and Sharif during the reception may have offered a glimpse of diplomatic courtesy, but there was no indication that the visit would lead to direct negotiations. For now, the focus remains on multilateral cooperation under the SCO, allowing both nations to engage without signalling a thaw in their bilateral relations.
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