External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s arrival in Islamabad for the 23rd Council of Heads of Government (CHG) meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) marks a rare and significant diplomatic moment for India and Pakistan. This is the first time in nearly nine years that an Indian foreign minister has set foot in Pakistan, underscoring the gravity of the occasion, despite the enduring tensions between the two countries. The two-day summit, taking place under unprecedented security measures in Islamabad, is being closely watched not only for its regional importance but also for the delicate dynamics between India and Pakistan, whose bilateral relations have remained frosty, especially over contentious issues like Kashmir and cross-border terrorism.
The SCO meeting is being held at a time when both countries are dealing with their own internal challenges. For Pakistan, the political landscape is particularly turbulent. The government, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, has been grappling with political unrest sparked by the imprisonment of opposition leader Imran Khan, leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. The government has implemented sweeping measures to control the unrest, including mass arrests of Khan's supporters, strict laws to limit protests, and a security lockdown in the capital. To ensure the summit proceeds without disruption, Islamabad has been effectively shut down for three days, with schools and businesses closed, public holidays declared, and a heavy deployment of security forces, including army troops in charge of the Red Zone, where the summit venues are located. This security clampdown comes amid concerns about ongoing militant violence in the country, adding a layer of complexity to Pakistan’s hosting of such a high-profile event.
Jaishankar’s participation in the summit is particularly significant, given that India's relationship with Pakistan remains strained. Both sides have ruled out the possibility of any bilateral talks between Jaishankar and his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar, with neither country showing signs of a thaw in relations. The Indian government has consistently voiced its concerns about Pakistan’s support for cross-border terrorism, a key point of contention. In a recent statement, Jaishankar reiterated India's position, stating, "India would certainly like to have good relations with Pakistan, but that cannot happen by overlooking cross-border terrorism and indulging in wishful thinking." This stance reflects India’s firm approach towards Pakistan and indicates that any diplomatic engagement between the two countries will remain limited, even in multilateral forums like the SCO.
Despite the lack of bilateral engagement, the SCO summit offers an important platform for India to participate in regional diplomacy alongside major players like China and Russia. The SCO, founded in 2001, has evolved from a security-oriented bloc to a broader organization focused on economic, political, and cultural cooperation among its member states. India and Pakistan became full members of the organization in 2017, joining founding members Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Since then, both countries have used the SCO as a forum to engage with other regional powers, even as they maintain their adversarial relationship. For India, the SCO is a valuable platform for advancing its regional interests, particularly in Central Asia, while balancing its relations with China and Russia.
One of the key figures attending the summit is Chinese Premier Li Qiang, who arrived in Islamabad a day earlier for both the SCO meeting and a four-day bilateral visit to Pakistan. This visit, the first by a Chinese premier to Pakistan in over a decade, is a testament to the deepening strategic partnership between China and Pakistan. Premier Li’s visit is expected to further cement bilateral relations through discussions with Pakistan’s leadership, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari. During his visit, Premier Li is also set to inaugurate the Gwadar International Airport, a major infrastructure project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which is part of China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative. The CPEC is a cornerstone of Pakistan’s economic and development strategy, with significant investments from China aimed at improving Pakistan’s infrastructure and boosting its economy.
In addition to the Chinese premier, the summit is being attended by other prominent leaders from SCO member states, including Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Belarus Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko, Kazakhstan Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, and Iranian First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref, among others. The presence of these leaders highlights the SCO’s growing importance as a regional organization that brings together countries with diverse political and economic interests but a shared commitment to addressing regional security challenges, economic cooperation, and infrastructure development.
The official proceedings of the summit will begin with the arrival of delegations on Tuesday, followed by a welcome dinner hosted by Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. On Wednesday, the summit’s key events will take place, including speeches by Pakistan’s leadership, document signings, and concluding statements by the heads of government. The leaders will also issue media statements and participate in an official luncheon, underscoring the multilateral nature of the event.
Pakistan assumed the rotating chair of the SCO CHG for the 2023-24 term at the previous meeting held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, in October 2023. As the current chair, Pakistan is responsible for facilitating dialogue among member states and hosting key meetings, including this summit. The SCO’s role has become increasingly significant in light of global and regional geopolitical shifts, with member states seeking to address regional security, counterterrorism, trade, and connectivity issues.
Jaishankar’s visit to Islamabad is a reflection of India’s broader engagement with the region, even as it maintains its firm stance on issues concerning Pakistan. The SCO summit provides India with an opportunity to engage with other regional powers, particularly China and Russia, as well as Central Asian nations, on issues of mutual concern. At the same time, it highlights the complexities of India-Pakistan relations, where diplomacy is often limited to multilateral settings due to deep-rooted political and security concerns. With the summit under heavy security and political tensions running high in Pakistan, the outcome of the discussions at the SCO will be closely watched, both for its regional implications and for any potential impact on the fragile relationship between India and Pakistan.
