FM Bilawal to attend SCO meeting in India next month

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting in Goa, India next month, in a first major trip by a top diplomat from Pakistan in over a decade, it was reported on Thursday.

The formal announcement of the foreign minister’s participation in SCO foreign ministers meeting was made by Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch during a weekly press briefing.

The conference is scheduled for May 4 and 5 in the Indian tourist resort, Goa.

In January, India had invited foreign ministers of the SCO including Pakistan for the meeting. The SCO comprises China, Russia, India, Pakistan and some central Asian states. Pakistan and India were admitted as its full members a few years ago.

Read India denies Pakistan entry at SCO meeting

Ahead of the SCO foreign ministers meeting, the defence ministers of the member states would also meet on April 27 in New Delhi.

Subsequently, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has been invited to the meeting. Following today's announcement, it is certain Asif would represent Pakistan but it is not clear if his participation would be virtual, or in person.

Relationship between Pakistan and India have remained at a standstill despite efforts by the two sides to mend ties.

FM Bilawal’s trip to India would be seen as an ice breaking move, though it may not bring any dramatic changes in the bilateral relationship.

It is believed that Pakistan took the decision considering the importance of the SCO. There were strong voices in favour of the visit given that Pakistan must not leave such important regional forums and provide India a chance to further isolate the country.

Read more India invites CJ, FM for SCO meetings

India is currently the president of the SCO, and is hosting a number of events including a summit meeting after the SCO foreign ministers conference.

If Bilawal’s visit goes as per plan, it is likely that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will visit India too for the summit.

'India creating hurdles'

Earlier this month, it was reported that Pakistan may be considering to attend the key ministerial meetings in India but initial internal assessment suggests the Modi government may create a situation to make it difficult for the country to send its delegates.

Although India extended the invitations for both the meetings. There is a sense within the Foreign Office that India may not be interested in Pakistan attending those high-profile meetings because of the Modi government’s policy.The source claimed that under the current circumstances, it did not suit Prime Minister Modi that Pakistan attends the SCO meetings in India. The general elections are due in the neighbouring country next year and Prime Minister Modi always cashed in on his anti-Pakistan campaign.