Pakistan is preparing to host the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in October. On Tuesday, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif confirmed that Pakistan would invite Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the regional meeting. Asif made this announcement while speaking to a private news channel. This statement comes amid rumors that PM Modi might not attend the summit, as reported by some media outlets. The speculations are based on the historically tense relationship between India and Pakistan, especially concerning the Kashmir issue.
In July, a spokesperson for the Foreign Office announced that before the October summit, there would be a ministerial meeting and several rounds of senior officials’ meetings. These meetings aim to foster cooperation among SCO member countries in areas such as finance, economics, socio-cultural affairs, and humanitarian efforts.
When asked whether Pakistan would invite the Indian premier, Asif responded, “Yes, certainly there should be no doubt about it.” He also pointed out that India had invited then-foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari to Delhi for the regional summit in July 2023. Asif emphasized that the host country cannot selectively invite heads of state. He added that not extending an invitation to any member state would be inappropriate and that the SCO would not accept such behavior from any host member state.
A day earlier, the Indian government denied media reports suggesting that PM Modi would not attend the upcoming SCO summit in Pakistan. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a statement urging media outlets to avoid speculation on the matter. According to a report published in The News, the MEA stated, “We have noticed several outlets are running news that the PM [Modi] won’t attend an SCO meeting in Pakistan or EAM [external affairs minister] will attend an SCO meeting in Pakistan.” The MEA emphasized that no official decision had been made regarding the prime minister’s participation in the SCO meeting in Pakistan.
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India Views SCO as a Valuable Platform
The SCO, led by Russia and China, is a crucial multilateral platform for India. India sees the SCO as an essential forum for regional security and collaboration with Central Asian nations. Despite its cautious approach to China’s influence within the organization, India views the SCO as a valuable platform for engaging with these countries. However, India has consistently refused to endorse China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a point of contention in SCO joint statements.
In another topic, Asif addressed reports that Iran plans to take Pakistan to an arbitration court over the IP gas pipeline project. Iran claims that Pakistan has not fulfilled its commitment to construct the pipeline. Asif stated that Pakistan should complete the gas pipeline project, as it is economically beneficial for the country. He added, “Iran is our neighborly country, and if we need oil, gas, or any other mineral resources, then the neighborly countries are economically beneficial.”
As Pakistan prepares for the SCO summit, the country is making efforts to strengthen its diplomatic relations, both within the region and with neighboring countries like Iran. The upcoming summit will be a significant event for Pakistan, providing an opportunity to engage with regional powers and address critical issues, including security and economic cooperation.
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