In a surprising development, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the political party of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, has extended an invitation to Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar to join and address ongoing protests in Pakistan. The invitation, aimed at showcasing Pakistan’s democratic principles, was confirmed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Provincial Information Advisor Barrister Ali Saif, who sought India’s help in “strengthening Pakistan’s state” amidst growing unrest.
According to Saif, PTI’s goal is to demonstrate Pakistan as a strong democracy, where the right to protest is fundamental. “We will invite Jaishankar, Indian External Affairs Minister, to come and join PTI’s protest, speak to our people, and witness firsthand that Pakistan is a robust democracy where everyone has a right to protest,” Saif stated during an interview on GEO News.
This invitation comes ahead of Jaishankar’s scheduled visit to Pakistan later this month for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) ‘Heads of Government’ summit, set to take place in Islamabad on October 15th and 16th. The summit will mark Jaishankar’s first visit to Pakistan as India’s foreign minister, and the first official visit by an Indian Foreign Minister to Pakistan in nearly a decade.
However, relations between the two neighboring countries have been strained since the 2016 Uri terror attack. India has consistently maintained that no substantive bilateral dialogue with Pakistan can occur unless the latter ceases its support for terrorism.
When questioned about the possibility of a bilateral meeting between Jaishankar and his Pakistani counterparts during the SCO summit, Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “The EAM is leading a delegation. As for his plans during the summit, we will provide more details closer to the meeting.”
Meanwhile, the MEA criticized Pakistan for hosting controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, who is wanted in India on charges of inciting terrorism. Jaiswal expressed India’s discontent over Naik’s high-level reception in Pakistan, calling it “disappointing and condemnable.”
As Jaishankar’s visit approaches, the prospect of any engagement between India and Pakistan remains uncertain, with tensions simmering over long-standing issues of terrorism and security.
