Wed Oct 16 12:03:20 UTC 2024: ## Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar Visits Pakistan for SCO Summit, Meets Prime Minister Sharif
**Islamabad, Pakistan** – Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar arrived in Pakistan on Tuesday for a two-day visit to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit. This marks the first visit by an Indian Foreign Minister to Pakistan in nearly nine years.
Jaishankar’s visit comes amidst heightened tensions between India and Pakistan. While the Indian government has clarified that Jaishankar’s visit is solely for the SCO Summit, his meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at a dinner hosted by the latter on Tuesday night has sparked hope for a thaw in relations between the two countries.
The main SCO summit, where Jaishankar is expected to deliver a speech, will take place on Wednesday. The summit will focus on the organization’s trade and economic agenda.
During his visit, Jaishankar emphasized the need for cooperation and mutual trust within the SCO framework. He highlighted the importance of addressing common challenges like terrorism, separatism, and extremism, as well as the impact of global conflicts on development and the need to achieve sustainable development goals.
The SCO, founded in 2001, is a Eurasian political, economic, and security organization that aims to promote cooperation among its member states. The organization currently includes India, Pakistan, China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
Jaishankar’s visit has been met with cautious optimism in both India and Pakistan. While the likelihood of a major breakthrough in bilateral relations remains uncertain, the visit itself serves as a positive signal for future dialogue and engagement.
First Piper 