Thu Oct 17 15:56:29 UTC 2024: ## Jaishankar’s Islamabad Trip: A Step Towards Thaw in India-Pakistan Relations?
**Islamabad:** In a significant development, India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited Islamabad to attend the two-day Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit held from October 15 to 16. This marked the first time in nearly nine years that an Indian foreign minister traveled to Pakistan, a country with whom India has tense relations over the Kashmir issue and cross-border terrorism.
Despite the strained ties, Jaishankar’s visit was seen as a positive step, with Pakistani officials describing it as an “icebreaker.” His arrival, handshake and conversations with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, as well as interactions with his counterpart Ishaq Dar, were widely reported in Pakistani media, highlighting the significance of the visit.
While neither side directly confronted each other on the Kashmir issue, Jaishankar subtly criticized the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), urging countries to respect territorial integrity while expanding trade relations. However, the visit saw a focus on improving India-Pakistan cricketing ties, with both foreign ministers engaging in informal discussions about it.
Jaishankar’s visit, although brief, has sparked optimism for a potential thaw in relations between the two countries. The last time an Indian foreign minister visited Pakistan was in 2015 when Sushma Swaraj attended the ‘Heart of Asia’ conference. This visit, however, is seen as a more significant step, coming after a period of heightened tensions.
While India continues to maintain that it desires normal relations with Pakistan, it insists that Islamabad must create an environment free of terrorism and hostility for this to happen. The visit has generated a buzz in diplomatic circles, with many seeing it as a potential opening for a more positive dialogue between India and Pakistan in the future.
First Piper 