On October 15, Indian Minister of External Affairs, S Jaishankar, landed in Pakistan’s capital city to attend the SCO Summit of Heads of Government Meeting. Jaishankar put the emphasis on “territorial integrity and cooperation based on mutual respect” in his SCO address on Wednesday. This public statement echoed themes of terrorism, extremism, and separatism, which India’s External Affairs Minister dubbed the “three evils” in his 2015 tour.
Jaishankar’s recent visit to Pakistan highlighted India’s stance on the evolving tensions in the Middle East and the Russia-Ukraine conflict. “Disruptions of various kinds—ranging from extreme climate events to supply chain uncertainties and financial volatility—impact growth and development. Debt is a serious concern, even as the world falls behind in achieving Sustainable Development targets. Technology holds great promise, as well as raising a new host of concerns. How should the members of the SCO respond to these challenges?” he remarked.
The Indian External Affairs Minister arrived on Tuesday for his two-day visit to Pakistan at Rawalpindi’s Nur Khan Airbase, where he was greeted by Ilyas Mehmood Nizami, Director General (South Asia) of Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Children in traditional dress welcomed him with bouquets. Later, he had a brief meeting with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during an official dinner for all summit participants.
Landed in Islamabad to take part in SCO Council of Heads of Government Meeting. pic.twitter.com/PQ4IFPZtlp
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) October 15, 2024
The two-day meeting of the SCO CHG, the second highest forum within the SCO, is being chaired by Prime Minister Sharif, who currently holds the council’s chair. The discussions are centered on the organization’s trade and economic agenda.
To contrast Jaishankar’s remarks, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Sharif emphasized widening the scope of cooperation with India’s neighboring rival, China. “Flagship projects like the Belt and Road Initiative of President Xi Jinping…should be expanded, focusing on developing road, rail, and digital infrastructure that enhances integration and cooperation across our region,” Sharif said in his speech as the chair of the meeting. Prime Minister Sharif encourages heads of state at the SCO Summit to “exchange ideas, share best practices, and forge concrete action plans that will benefit our economies and societies.”
At present, the SCO includes China, India, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Belarus, along with 16 additional countries that are affiliated as observers or “dialogue partners.” The organization claims to represent 40% of the global population and approximately 30% of the world’s GDP. Pakistan became a full member during the 2017 summit in Kazakhstan.
