External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar arrived in Islamabad on Tuesday to attend a significant Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) conclave, marking the first such high-level visit by an Indian official to Pakistan in nearly nine years. The visit, while primarily aimed at the SCO meeting, garnered attention as Jaishankar exchanged pleasantries with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at an official banquet on Tuesday night.
Despite the cordial greetings and symbolic handshake between Jaishankar and Sharif at the reception dinner hosted for SCO delegates, no bilateral talks between the two countries were planned or expected. Relations between India and Pakistan have remained tense, particularly following India’s abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir in 2019 and ongoing concerns over cross-border terrorism.
On Wednesday morning, ahead of the SCO meeting, Jaishankar was spotted taking a morning walk with his staff within the premises of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. This casual moment, captured in one of the several interesting visuals emerging from the visit, added a human touch to the historic trip, underscoring the minister’s calm demeanor amid the high-stakes diplomatic engagement.
Jaishankar, along with the delegation from India, was received at the Nur Khan airbase on the outskirts of Islamabad on Tuesday afternoon. The SCO summit is set to focus on trade and economic cooperation among its members, with India reaffirming its commitment to active participation in the forum. Jaishankar stated his purpose for the visit in a post on X, noting the importance of attending the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting.
While this marks a significant diplomatic engagement, the chances of an easing in the strained ties between India and Pakistan remain slim. Both sides have ruled out any formal dialogue on the sidelines of the summit. However, Jaishankar’s presence at the SCO is seen as a reaffirmation of India’s commitment to multilateral cooperation, even amid difficult bilateral relations with Pakistan.
The last time an Indian foreign minister visited Pakistan was in 2015, when Sushma Swaraj attended the Heart of Asia conference in Islamabad. During that visit, Swaraj had engaged in talks with Pakistani officials, leading to discussions on a Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue—talks which have since stalled.
