External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is set to visit Pakistan on Tuesday evening for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) heads of government meeting, marking the first visit by an Indian foreign minister to Pakistan in nearly a decade. He is also expected to attend a welcome dinner hosted by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for the visiting delegates.
Jaishankar will lead the Indian delegation at the SCO summit, which will take place in Pakistan on October 15-16. Although no formal bilateral talks are planned between India and Pakistan during the event, Jaishankar is likely to interact informally with Sharif and his Pakistani counterpart, Ishaq Dar, ahead of the main summit on Wednesday.
Initially anticipated to be a brief visit, Jaishankar is expected to stay in Pakistan for less than 24 hours before returning to India, according to *Times of India*.
While Jaishankar’s trip is primarily focused on fulfilling India’s role as a member of the SCO, rather than addressing bilateral relations with Pakistan, there is a possibility of informal conversations on the sidelines. However, any formal engagement would require a proposal from Pakistan.
India has made it clear that for meaningful progress in bilateral relations, Pakistan must take decisive and lasting action against terrorism. India also insists that the onus for improving ties lies with Pakistan, particularly after it downgraded diplomatic relations following India’s decision to revoke the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.
Pakistan, meanwhile, continues to emphasize the Kashmir issue, with Finance Minister Dar recently stating that, under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Islamabad consistently raises the matter alongside its support for Palestinians in Gaza.
