Jaishankar on SCO summit: ‘Not going to Islamabad to discuss India-Pakistan relations’ – World News

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar made it clear on Saturday that his upcoming visit to Islamabad for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit is not aimed at addressing India-Pakistan relations but rather fulfilling his responsibilities as a member of the SCO.

Speaking during the Sardar Patel Lecture on Governance, organized by the IC Centre for Governance in New Delhi, Jaishankar emphasised, “I am not going there to discuss India–Pakistan relations. I am going there to be a good member of the SCO.” He reiterated the focus on the multilateral event, stating that his presence in Pakistan is solely for the summit scheduled for October 15-16.

Jaishankar acknowledged the heightened media interest that his visit might attract, given the complex nature of India-Pakistan relations. However, he stressed that the purpose of his visit was strictly to participate in the SCO meeting. “Since I am a courteous and civil person, I will behave myself accordingly,” he remarked.

The External Affairs Minister explained that the SCO Summit is being hosted in Islamabad because both India and Pakistan are relatively recent members of the bloc. “Normally, the Prime Minister goes to the high-level meeting of heads of state. It so happens that the meeting is taking place in Pakistan,” he noted.

When asked about his preparations ahead of the summit, Jaishankar responded, “Of course, I am planning for it. In my business, you plan for everything that you are going to do, and for a lot of things that you are not going to do, and which could happen as well.”

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had previously confirmed Jaishankar’s travel plans to Pakistan for the SCO summit, marking a significant diplomatic event. MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterated that Jaishankar would lead a delegation to Islamabad for the gathering of SCO member states.

This visit follows a notable event earlier this year when Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari visited India for the SCO meeting in Goa—the first visit by a Pakistani Foreign Minister to India in six years.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, established in 2001, is a permanent intergovernmental international organisation consisting of nine member states, including India, Pakistan, and Iran. The organization focuses on regional security, economic cooperation, and cultural exchanges among its members.

Jaishankar’s upcoming visit symbolizes an opportunity for India to engage in multilateral diplomacy, even as he navigates the intricacies of India-Pakistan relations on the international stage.

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