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The arrival of Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in Islamabad on October 15, 2024, marks a significant diplomatic development. This visit, the first by a senior Indian minister to Pakistan in nearly nine years, underscores a potential thaw in the long-strained relationship between the two neighboring nations. The event, however, remains primarily focused on the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) conclave, with the Indian government explicitly ruling out any bilateral talks between Jaishankar and his Pakistani counterpart, Ishaq Dar, on the sidelines of the summit.
The last visit by a foreign minister from India to Pakistan was in December 2015, when Sushma Swaraj attended a conference on Afghanistan in Islamabad. The current SCO meeting, hosted by Pakistan, is a crucial gathering for the organization, which aims to promote cooperation in fields such as economy, trade, environment, and socio-cultural linkages. The two-day summit will also review the SCO's performance and provide a platform for discussions on pressing regional issues.
Despite the absence of bilateral talks, the mere presence of a high-ranking Indian minister in Pakistan carries symbolic weight. This visit, coinciding with Pakistan's chairmanship of the SCO, provides a rare opportunity for engagement and diplomacy between the two countries, which have historically experienced tense relations due to long-standing territorial disputes and security concerns. The visit also reflects the growing significance of the SCO in shaping regional dynamics and its potential to foster cooperation among its member states.
The security measures surrounding the SCO summit, including the deployment of Army rangers and thousands of police personnel, highlight the challenges of hosting such a high-profile international event in a region characterized by security concerns. The presence of foreign dignitaries underscores the need for robust security measures to ensure the safety and success of the summit.