India’s Foreign Minister, S. Jaishankar, has announced that during his upcoming visit to Islamabad, he will not hold bilateral discussions with Pakistani officials regarding the two countries’ relations.
Jaishankar is scheduled to visit Pakistan in mid-October to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit.
New Delhi confirmed on Friday that India’s foreign minister will travel to Pakistan.
This will be the first visit by an Indian foreign minister to Pakistan in nine years. Sushma Swaraj, then India’s foreign minister, made the last visit in 2015 to attend the Heart of Asia conference.
Jaishankar stated in a press briefing, “This visit is for attending a multilateral meeting. I am not going there to discuss India-Pakistan relations.”
He added that the visit aligns with India’s role as a “good member” of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Referring to media attention on his presence in Pakistan, Jaishankar remarked, “Since I am polite and courteous, my behavior will be appropriate.”
The SCO summit is scheduled for October 15th and 16th in Islamabad. Leaders from countries such as Russia, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan are expected to attend.
Relations between India and Pakistan have never returned to normal since the two nations gained independence from British rule in 1947. The two countries have experienced longstanding tensions, especially over the Kashmir issue, which has led to multiple conflicts over the years.
Meanwhile, Pakistan is facing escalating protests led by Imran Khan’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Fueled by political dissatisfaction, the protests have significantly heightened the country’s security concerns, leading to widespread unrest.
With increased clashes between protesters and security forces, the Pakistani government has deployed additional forces to maintain order, raising concerns about the stability of the country amid rising political tensions.
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