Pakistan has officially extended an invitation to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the upcoming meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) heads of government, scheduled to take place in Islamabad on October 15 and 16, as confirmed by official sources on Sunday. The invitation was issued by Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who also invited other SCO leaders to participate in this significant gathering of regional representatives.
This marks the first time in eight years that Pakistan has invited an Indian leader for a regional summit. The last such invitation to Modi was for the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit in 2016. However, the SAARC summit never materialised after India chose to boycott it, leading to the virtual stagnation of the regional organisation since then.
The decision of whether or not Modi will attend the SCO meeting in Islamabad presents a challenging dilemma. Given the presence of influential member states within the organisation, skipping the meeting could have diplomatic implications for India. However, diplomatic circles express skepticism about Modi traveling to Islamabad, citing the strained relations between India and Pakistan. An alternative could be Modi’s participation in the summit via video conference.
Historically, regional groupings like the SCO have occasionally provided a platform for India and Pakistan to explore possibilities for resetting bilateral ties. However, current diplomatic conditions suggest that such a rapprochement is unlikely, given the deep-seated differences between the two countries regarding the normalization of relations.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization, established in 2001, is a significant Eurasian alliance focused on political, economic, and security cooperation. Initially founded by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, the organisation has since expanded to include India, Pakistan, and Iran as full members, with Afghanistan, Belarus, and Mongolia as observers. Several other countries participate as dialogue partners. The SCO is often viewed as a counterbalance to Western alliances like NATO, playing a crucial role in fostering regional collaboration.
Pakistan has actively participated in all SCO meetings hosted by India in the past year, either through physical attendance or virtual participation. Notably, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari visited Goa for the SCO Foreign Ministers’ meeting in May 2023. India had also extended an invitation to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for the SCO summit held in New Delhi. However, before Pakistan could confirm its attendance, India abruptly decided to host the summit virtually rather than in person, reportedly due to its ongoing tensions with both China and Pakistan.
The SCO is vital in addressing key regional security issues, such as terrorism, extremism, and separatism, through joint military exercises and intelligence sharing among its member states. Economically, the organisation promotes cooperation through initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), aiming to boost trade, energy partnerships, and infrastructure development across the Eurasian continent. Furthermore, the SCO provides a forum for member states to coordinate their positions on major international issues, often advocating for a multipolar world order that challenges Western dominance in global affairs.
The most recent SCO Summit, the 23rd in its history, was hosted by India on July 4, 2023, via video conference.
