Pakistan Extends Invitation To India For SCO Meeting; Will India Accept?

Pakistan has invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Government (CHG) meeting in Islamabad on October 15-16. Given the current tense diplomatic relations, it is expected that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will stay in India and possibly delegate a minister to represent India at the event. The Ministry of External Affairs has not yet confirmed this arrangement.

New Delhi: In a major diplomatic development, Pakistan has extended an invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Government (CHG) meeting, which is scheduled to take place in Islamabad on October 15-16. However, due to the strained diplomatic relations between the two countries, it is anticipated that PM Modi will opt to remain in India. There is speculation that he may choose to designate a minister to represent India at the meeting on his behalf. The Ministry of External Affairs has not officially confirmed the same.

It is noteworthy that, as the host country currently holding the rotating chairmanship, Pakistan's invitation is in line with the established SCO protocol. While Prime Minister Modi has consistently participated in SCO heads of state summits in the past, he was unable to attend this year's event in Kazakhstan due to a clash in the Indian Parliament.

The CHG meeting holds significance as a key decision-making body within the SCO, and India has previously been represented by ministerial appointments, such as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's participation in last year's meeting in Bishkek.

According to sources, given the recent tensions, including terror attacks in Jammu and the ongoing disputes over Kashmir, India's participation in the upcoming meeting appears uncertain. Despite efforts to promote collaboration within the SCO framework, the persistent issues between India and Pakistan challenge their bilateral relations.

India and Pakistan share a complex and often tense relationship, rooted in historical, political and territorial disputes. Key issues include the conflict over the Kashmir region, cross-border terrorism and military tensions. However, there are also instances of diplomacy, trade and people-to-people connections that occasionally bring the two nations closer together.

The partition of British India in 1947 led to the creation of India and Pakistan, with significant communal violence and mass migrations. The Kashmir conflict emerged soon after independence.

Both countries claim the entire Kashmir region, but control only parts of it. The dispute has led to several wars (1947-48, 1965, 1999) and ongoing military skirmishes. Both countries conducted nuclear tests in 1998, leading to international concerns over a potential nuclear conflict in South Asia. Despite conflicts, there have been numerous attempts at dialogue, including the Lahore Summit (1999) and the Agra Summit (2001). However, these efforts often collapse following terrorist attacks or military tensions.

Cross-Border Terrorism: India accuses Pakistan of supporting militant groups that carry out attacks in India, including the 2001 Parliament attack and the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Pakistan refute these allegations.

The relationship remains strained, especially after the 2019 Pulwama attack and subsequent Balakot airstrike. The revocation of Jammu and Kashmir's Special Status by India in 2019 further escalated tensions. The future of India-Pakistan relations could involve more diplomatic engagement or increased tensions depending on regional dynamics, international pressure and internal political developments in both countries. Peace efforts, economic cooperation, and people-to-people ties could help mitigate some of the longstanding hostilities.

Read more: Encourage India, Pakistan to Find Resolution via Talks: US on Alleged Anti-Terror Ops across Border