Islamabad – In a significant diplomatic engagement, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Tuesday during his visit to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) conference in Islamabad. This marks the first visit by an Indian foreign minister to Pakistan in nine years. The meeting took place during a banquet hosted by Prime Minister Sharif at his residence, where leaders of the delegations from the SCO member states were gathered. The atmosphere was cordial as both leaders shook hands and exchanged greetings, signaling a commitment to dialogue amidst ongoing regional challenges.
Jaishankar's arrival at Nur Khan Air Base was met with a warm reception from senior Pakistani officials at around 3:30 PM, accompanied by tight security protocols established for the conference. As he stepped foot in Pakistan, Jaishankar emphasized India's active participation in various SCO activities, reinforcing New Delhi's engagement in multilateral platforms. Before heading to Islamabad, Jaishankar shared moments with local children and officials, highlighting the importance of cultural exchange and people-to-people connections. The SCO conference, scheduled for October 15 and 16, aims to foster cooperation among member states on security, economic, and cultural issues.
Jaishankar's visit is particularly noteworthy as it comes nearly a decade after former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's trip to Pakistan in December 2015. At that time, Swaraj represented India at the Heart of Asia conference focused on Afghanistan, with Jaishankar, then Foreign Secretary, accompanying her. Just weeks later, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made headlines with an unexpected visit to Lahore, signaling potential thawing relations. As the SCO conference unfolds, all eyes will be on the proceedings, hopeful for constructive dialogue and collaboration among the member nations.