Bilawal going to SCO

Given the multifaceted economic crisis, finding common ground and growth potential could be critical

Another noticeable effort to improve ties with India came this week when it was confirmed that Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will attend the two-day SCO moot in Goa next month. Bilawal’s opposite number, Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, had invited him in January, but a formal acceptance was not forthcoming. Some analysts claimed this was squarely due to Pakistan’s principled stance on New Delhi’s treatment of the people under its rule in Occupied Kashmir, but others felt it was still unusual because the SCO is a prominent multilateral grouping, and even China — a close ally of Pakistan and another country with which India has territorial disputes — did not take too long to accept an invitation which was also sent in January. Also, Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman ‘attended’ the SCO’s environmental moot earlier this week, although that meeting was held virtually. Whatever the reason for the delay, we do know that sideline discussions will be limited, or at least well outside the public eye.

Meanwhile, Bilawal has noted that attending the meeting would show Pakistan’s commitment to the SCO while clarifying that it is unlikely that bilateral issues would be raised during the trip, since using the forum to raise bilateral matters would go against the SCO rules. India also put out a similar statement saying it would not focus on any one SCO member. Still, given that this would be the first visit to India by a sitting Pakistani cabinet minister in almost a decade, it is almost certain that some interaction would take place, even if it is not directly between Bilawal and Jaishankar. Also, it remains important for Pakistan to keep its friends close, and the SCO includes several members that are either outright allies, close trading partners, or potential trade partners. Given the multifaceted economic crisis ravaging the country, finding common ground and growth potential with any one of them could be critical.

 

.Published in The Express Tribune, April 22^nd, 2023.

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