External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has clarified that his upcoming visit to Pakistan for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit 2024 is strictly focused on multilateral cooperation and not about discussing bilateral relations between India and Pakistan.
Addressing this point during the Sardar Patel Lecture on Governance in New Delhi, Jaishankar emphasised that his visit is part of India’s commitment to being a cooperative member of the SCO, which is set to take place in Islamabad this month.
The minister reiterated that he is travelling to Pakistan for a multilateral event, and his focus remains entirely on the agenda of the SCO.
He acknowledged that there would be considerable media attention due to the nature of India-Pakistan relations but maintained that his trip is purely to attend the summit, in line with India's responsibilities as an SCO member. Jaishankar added that, as a "courteous and civil person," he will conduct himself accordingly while attending the event.
The SCO Summit, this year hosted by Pakistan, is a part of a rotational arrangement among member nations. Jaishankar mentioned that it is normal for the heads of government to represent their nations at such events and that the current meeting is being held in Islamabad since Pakistan, like India, is a recent addition to the bloc. He noted that detailed preparations are underway, highlighting that, in diplomacy, planning extends to not only what is expected but also the unexpected.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed Jaishankar’s participation in the SCO Summit. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that Jaishankar would lead the Indian delegation to Islamabad for the summit, scheduled for October 15-16, 2024. India received an invitation from Pakistan for the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting earlier in August, which India accepted.
In May 2023, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari visited India for an SCO meeting in Goa, marking the first visit of a Pakistani Foreign Minister to India in six years.
This occurrence helped lay the groundwork for continued multilateral interactions under the umbrella of the SCO, despite the lingering tensions between the two countries.
The SCO is a permanent intergovernmental international organisation established on June 15, 2001, in Shanghai by countries including Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. India and Pakistan became full members later, and Iran also joined the bloc recently. The organisation was originally born from the "Shanghai Five" mechanism and has since expanded its scope.
Currently, the SCO consists of nine member states: India, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. It also includes three observer states—Afghanistan, Mongolia, and Belarus—that may potentially become full members in the future. Additionally, there are 14 dialogue partners, including countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Nepal, showcasing the regional and global relevance of the SCO.
At the 2022 SCO Summit in Samarkand, discussions began to upgrade Belarus's status from an observer to a full member. The inclusion of new countries further strengthens the multilateral character of the SCO, making it an important platform for regional cooperation on various fronts including security, economy, and cultural exchanges.
The SCO has established itself as a significant regional grouping in the Eurasian landscape, focusing on enhancing connectivity, counterterrorism, trade, and economic collaborations among its members.
Jaishankar's visit to Islamabad is a continuation of this multilateral spirit, which aims to bring regional players together under one framework. Despite the strained India-Pakistan relations, India remains committed to engaging in multilateral processes, separating its bilateral issues from the broader regional agenda. This commitment is a sign of India’s diplomatic maturity and its strategic intent to play a constructive role in regional matters.
The SCO Summit provides a platform for member countries to deliberate on regional and global issues. In recent years, SCO has focused on counterterrorism, economic cooperation, and connectivity initiatives.
Given the diverse backgrounds and sometimes conflicting interests of its members, the SCO meetings provide a space for countries to collaborate, even amid political differences.
Jaishankar’s approach of participating as a "good member of the SCO" while maintaining a clear distinction between multilateral obligations and bilateral tensions underlines India's approach to diplomacy.
India’s participation in multilateral organisations like the SCO is a means to build bridges with neighbouring countries and other regional partners, as well as to promote its own vision for regional stability, security, and development.
As the SCO Summit approaches, there will undoubtedly be considerable focus on India and Pakistan, given their history of contentious relations. However, Jaishankar’s emphasis on the multilateral nature of the visit makes it evident that India's priority is contributing to the collective goals of the SCO, rather than engaging in bilateral disputes.
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