India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, is set to visit Pakistan to lead the Indian delegation at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit on October 15-16. This will be Jaishankar’s first visit to Pakistan as the External Affairs Minister, with the last Indian official to visit being Sushma Swaraj in 2015.
The announcement follows a formal invitation sent by Pakistan to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in August, inviting him to attend the SCO summit. Pakistan, which currently holds the rotating chair of the SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG), will host the two-day event in Islamabad, focusing on regional cooperation in financial, economic, and socio-cultural areas.
However, an unexpected twist has emerged amid Pakistan’s ongoing political unrest. It has been reported that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the political party of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, has extended an invitation to Jaishankar to address its anti-government protests.
Did PTI Really Invite Jaishankar?
Imran Khan’s PTI has been organizing large-scale protests in Islamabad, demanding Khan’s release from prison and calling for the judiciary’s independence. The protests, which have intensified over recent weeks, come as Pakistan grapples with severe political instability. The government, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, has faced significant opposition from Khan’s supporters, who remain steadfast in their demands.
During a televised discussion on Geo News, PTI leader and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Advisor to the Chief Minister, Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, hinted at an unusual invitation. “World leaders are coming to Pakistan for the SCO summit, and they will be happy to see our democracy in action and admire its strength,” Saif said.
He went on to add, “We (PTI) would like to invite Jaishankar sahab to join our protest and address our people. He can witness firsthand how Pakistan has a strong democracy where every person has the right to protest.”
Jaishankar’s Upcoming Visit To Pakistan
While Jaishankar’s visit is primarily focused on the multilateral SCO summit, he has made it clear that his trip will not include any discussions on India-Pakistan bilateral issues. Addressing the media on Saturday, Jaishankar said, “It (visit) will be for a multilateral event. I’m not going there to discuss India-Pakistan relations. I’m going there to be a good member of the SCO. But, you know, since I’m a courteous and civil person, I will behave myself accordingly.”
The SCO event, which will be held over two days, will include discussions on economic cooperation, security, and regional stability among the member states. Jaishankar’s participation is seen as a continuation of India’s commitment to engaging with regional partners, despite ongoing tensions with Pakistan.
Strained India-Pakistan Relations
India and Pakistan share a long history of strained relations, primarily due to the Kashmir dispute and cross-border terrorism, which India has repeatedly blamed on Pakistan. Despite ongoing hostilities, India has maintained that it seeks peaceful and normal relations with its neighbors, but only if Pakistan takes concrete steps to curb terrorism.
Tensions escalated significantly after India’s abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, which stripped Jammu and Kashmir of its special status. In response, Pakistan downgraded diplomatic ties with India and has since maintained a frosty relationship with New Delhi.
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