India has received a formal invitation from Pakistan to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Government (CHG) meeting, scheduled to be held in October 2024 in Islamabad. This development marks a significant diplomatic moment, as the two neighboring countries continue to navigate their complex bilateral relationship.
The invitation from Pakistan has been confirmed by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), though no official decision has been announced yet regarding India’s participation.
Pakistan’s Role as SCO Chair and Invitation Details
Pakistan, currently holding the rotating chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of Government, is set to host the in-person meeting in Islamabad on October 15-16. This meeting is part of the broader SCO framework, which brings together key regional players to discuss political, economic, and security issues.
According to Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, invitations have been extended to all heads of government of the SCO member states, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Baloch further noted that Pakistan has already received some confirmations for the summit, highlighting the importance of this gathering in the regional political landscape.
The invitation to India comes at a time when relations between the two countries remain strained, making India’s response to the invitation a subject of keen interest.
While the MEA has confirmed receipt of the invitation, it has also clarified that no decision has been made yet regarding India’s participation. “Yes, we have received an invitation from Pakistan for the Council of Heads of State Government meeting (SCO meeting) that is to happen. We don’t have an update on that.
We will let you know what the situation is later,” said Randhir Jaiswal, the official spokesperson for the MEA, during a weekly media briefing.
Background of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, established on June 15, 2001, in Shanghai, is a permanent intergovernmental international organization that plays a crucial role in regional cooperation across Eurasia.
Initially, the SCO was built upon the foundation of the Shanghai Five, a mechanism that included Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan. Over the years, the SCO has expanded its membership and influence, becoming an important platform for dialogue and collaboration on security, economic, and political issues.
Today, the SCO comprises nine member states: India, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan.
The organization also has three observer states—Afghanistan, Mongolia, and Belarus—and 14 dialogue partners, including countries like Azerbaijan, Armenia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye.
The SCO’s significance in international diplomacy has grown over the years, with its members collectively representing a significant portion of the world’s population and economic output.
The upcoming CHG meeting in Islamabad will be closely watched, not only for the discussions that will take place but also for the interactions between the member states, especially India and Pakistan.
The SCO platform has often been used by its members to address bilateral issues in addition to the broader multilateral agenda.
India’s Position and Potential Participation
India’s participation in the upcoming SCO summit in Pakistan is still uncertain, given the current state of India-Pakistan relations. The MEA’s decision on whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi or another representative will attend the meeting is likely to be influenced by a range of factors, including the geopolitical climate and the specifics of the summit’s agenda.
It is also important to note that the MEA had previously denied media reports suggesting that PM Modi would not attend the SCO summit in Pakistan, indicating that the final decision is still under consideration.
The SCO provides a unique platform for India to engage with its regional neighbors, including Pakistan, on issues of mutual concern. However, given the historical tensions between the two countries, India’s decision to participate in the meeting will be carefully weighed against the potential diplomatic ramifications.
As the summit date approaches, the focus will remain on whether India decides to participate and, if so, at what level of representation. The outcome of this decision could have implications not only for India-Pakistan relations but also for the broader dynamics within the SCO.
The invitation from Pakistan to India for the upcoming SCO summit underscores the complex nature of diplomatic relations in the region. While the invitation has been acknowledged by the Indian government, the final decision on participation remains pending.
The SCO, as an important multilateral forum, offers a space for dialogue and cooperation among its members, and India’s participation could signal a willingness to engage in regional discussions despite bilateral tensions.
The coming weeks will reveal how this diplomatic scenario unfolds and what it might mean for the future of India-Pakistan relations and the broader SCO framework.