Both India and Pakistan will not hold a bilateral meeting during the upcoming SCO Heads of Government meeting in Islamabad on October 15-16. Pakistan’s Foreign Minister confirmed no requests for dialogue have been made between the two nations. Security concerns have surfaced due to political protests from the opposition party in Pakistan, raising potential challenges for the summit’s successful execution.
The upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Heads of Government meeting, scheduled for October 15-16 in Islamabad, will not feature a bilateral meeting between India and Pakistan. This was confirmed by Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, who stated that neither side has sought such an engagement. He mentioned that Mr. Jaishankar, India’s External Affairs Minister, would be received with “full protocol” in accordance with Pakistan’s responsibilities as a host. Despite the importance of the SCO gathering, expectations for a significant dialogue between India and Pakistan remain low, particularly when considering the historical context of prior official visits. The last bilateral engagement took place in 2015, during a visit by then External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, which ultimately led to a temporary thawing of relations after a series of terrorist attacks. Mr. Dar reiterated, “India’s Foreign Minister has not asked for any meeting, and we haven’t requested a bilateral meeting either.” The meeting will also see the attendance of leaders from other SCO member nations, including the Iranian Vice-President and the Prime Ministers of several CIS countries. There is particular attention towards any possible interactions between Mr. Jaishankar and the Chinese Premier, given the upcoming BRICS summit, where discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping are anticipated amid ongoing tensions along their border. Additionally, security arrangements have drawn scrutiny, especially with rising protests led by the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI), advocating for their imprisoned leader, Mr. Imran Khan. More than 9,000 police personnel have been deployed to maintain order during this period, and there have been claims from Pakistani officials implying that India may be involved in inciting disruptions during the summit. Overall, both nations appear to prioritize multilateral discussions over bilateral relations at this juncture, confirming a continuing divergence in their diplomatic paths.
The article discusses the forthcoming SCO Heads of Government meeting taking place in Islamabad, highlighting the lack of anticipated diplomatic engagement between India and Pakistan. The context includes previous attempts at bilateral discussions and security concerns surrounding protest activity related to Pakistan’s internal political situation. The SCO is a multilateral organization, and this meeting presents opportunities for interaction among member nations, although experts remain skeptical about significant outcomes related to India-Pakistan relations.
In summary, the absence of a request for a bilateral meeting from either India or Pakistan underscores the ongoing complexity of their diplomatic relations, especially in the context of significant regional gatherings like the SCO. While operational aspects of the summit are being arranged with attention to external security challenges, impending interactions among other leaders, particularly between India and China, may overshadow the limited scope of India-Pakistan dialogue.
Original Source: www.thehindu.com
