August 29, 2024: Pakistan has extended an official invitation to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Islamabad this October, as confirmed by a spokesperson from the Pakistani Foreign Office on Thursday. This invitation comes at a time when relations between India and Pakistan are particularly strained, largely due to ongoing tensions over the Kashmir issue and concerns about cross-border terrorism originating from Pakistan.
Pakistan will host the SCO Heads of Government meeting on October 15-16, preceded by a ministerial meeting and several sessions involving senior officials. These discussions will focus on various aspects of cooperation among SCO member states, including financial, economic, socio-cultural, and humanitarian matters. During a weekly press briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Baloch confirmed that invitations have been sent out to the leaders of SCO member countries. “An invitation has also been sent to the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi,” Baloch stated, according to reports from Dawn. She added that some nations have already confirmed their participation, with further details to be disclosed in due time.
When questioned about Pakistan’s relationship with India, Baloch highlighted that there is currently no direct bilateral trade between the two countries.
India-Pakistan Relations: A History of Tensions
The relationship between Islamabad and New Delhi has long been fraught, primarily due to disputes over Kashmir and the issue of cross-border terrorism. India has consistently expressed its desire for normal, peaceful relations with Pakistan but insists that the onus is on Islamabad to create an environment free of terror and hostility. Pakistan downgraded its diplomatic ties with India following the Indian government’s decision to revoke Article 370 on August 5, 2019.
Recently, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stated that while India has “never closed doors to talking to Pakistan,” any dialogue must center on the issue of cross-border terrorism. When asked about the possibility of engaging directly with the Pakistani military, Jaishankar dismissed the idea, saying, “it doesn’t work like that.”
Despite these tensions, Pakistan continues to raise the Kashmir issue on international platforms. On Thursday, Baloch mentioned that Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary would present the country’s perspective on Jammu and Kashmir at the 50th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) in Cameroon, scheduled from August 29-30.
Will PM Modi Attend the SCO Summit in Pakistan?
It remains unclear whether PM Modi will accept Pakistan’s invitation to the SCO summit in Islamabad, given the current state of India-Pakistan relations. Previously, Modi skipped the SCO Summit in Kazakhstan on July 3-4, instead opting for a visit to Russia. India was represented at the summit by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, who joined other leaders, including Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
In his remarks at the summit, Jaishankar, speaking on behalf of PM Modi, called for decisive action against terrorism and the radicalization of youth. “Many of us have had our experiences, often originating beyond our borders. Let us be clear that if left unchecked, it can become a major threat to regional and global peace. Terrorism in any form or manifestation cannot be justified or condoned,” he stated.
He further emphasized that the international community must expose and isolate nations that harbor terrorists, provide safe havens, and condone terrorism. He called for a firm response to cross-border terrorism, as well as robust measures to counter terrorism financing and recruitment.
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