External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar arrived in Islamabad on Tuesday to attend a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) conclave. Ahead of the summit, Jaishankar on Wednesday was welcomed by Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif at the venue of the SCO conclave in Islamabad.
EAM’s visit to Pakistan brought in rare visuals where the External Affairs Minister was seen exchanging a courtesy greeting as Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif welcomed him for the official dinner hosted for SCO leaders on Tuesday.
In one of the several interesting visuals emerging from Islamabad, Jaishankar on Wednesday morning ahead of the SCO meeting was seen having a morning walk. The Indian minister was seen walking with his staff inside the premises of the Islamabad High Commission.
Jaishankar, Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif Meet At SCO Dinner
Jaishankar and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif exchanged pleasantries with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, hours after landing in the Pakistani capital in the first such visit from India in nearly a decade that came amid frosty ties between the two neighbours.
The brief exchange and handshake between Jaishankar and Sharif took place at a banquet dinner hosted by the Pakistani prime minister at his residence in honour of the delegates attending a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
However, there was no indication of any thaw in the strained ties between the two sides.
Interestingly, the Indian classical dance form ‘Bharatanatyam’ was among the performances presented at the reception during the dinner reception, people familiar with the matter said.
The Pakistan prime minister greeted all the leaders of the delegations of the SCO member nations at the banquet reception. Sharif and the leaders of the SCO delegations had dinner at a large table.
It is understood that Jaishankar also exchanged pleasantries with Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar at the reception.
Pakistan Hosting SCO Summit
Pakistan is hosting the SCO meeting under tight security and the capital city has almost been under lockdown. The main conclave is set to take place on Wednesday.
Earlier, Jaishankar’s aircraft landed at the Nur Khan airbase on the outskirts of the Pakistani capital city at around 3:30 pm (local time) and he was greeted by senior Pakistani officials.
It is the first time in nearly nine years that India’s foreign minister travelled to Pakistan even as the ties between the two neighbours remained tense over the Kashmir issue and cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan.
Jaishankar Leading Indian Delegation At SCO Summit
The external affairs minister will lead the Indian delegation at the SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG) summit on Wednesday. “Landed in Islamabad to take part in SCO Council of Heads of Government Meeting,” Jaishankar posted on ’X’ along with photographs of children and officials welcoming him with flowers at the airport.
The last Indian Foreign Minister to visit Pakistan was Sushma Swaraj. She had travelled to Islamabad to attend the ‘Heart of Asia’ conference on Afghanistan that was held on December 8 to 9 in 2015.
Jaishankar, who was then India’s foreign secretary was part of Swaraj’s delegation. During the visit, Swaraj had held talks with her then counterpart Sartaj Aziz. Following the Swaraj-Aziz talks, a joint statement was released in which both sides announced their decision to start a Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue.
Before Jaishankar left for Pakistan, India on Tuesday said it remains actively engaged in various mechanisms of the SCO. “The SCO CHG meeting is held annually and focuses on the trade and economic agenda of the Organisation,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.
“External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will represent India at the meeting. India remains actively engaged in the SCO format, including various mechanisms and initiatives within the SCO framework,” it said in a brief statement in New Delhi.
Both sides have already ruled out any bilateral talks between Jaishankar and Dar on the sidelines of the SCO summit.
In his recent address at an event, Jaishankar said “like with any neighbour, India would certainly like to have good relations with Pakistan.” “But that cannot happen by overlooking cross-border terrorism and indulging in wishful thinking.” The decision to send the senior minister is seen as a display of India’s commitment to the SCO.
The ties between India and Pakistan came under severe strain after India’s warplanes pounded a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist training camp in Balakot in Pakistan in February 2019 in response to the Pulwama terror attack.
The relations further deteriorated after India on August 5, 2019 announced the withdrawal of special powers of Jammu and Kashmir and the bifurcation of the state into two union territories.
Pakistan downgraded diplomatic ties with India after New Delhi abrogated Article 370.
India has been maintaining that it desires normal neighbourly relations with Pakistan while insisting that the onus is on Islamabad to create an environment free of terror and hostility for such engagement.
Pakistan’s then Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari visited India in May 2023 to attend an in-person meeting of the foreign ministers of SCO nations in Goa. It was the first visit of a Pakistani foreign minister to India in almost 12 years.
(With inputs from PTI)
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