India commits to working with Pakistan during SCO leadership tenure: Jaishankar

Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar has highlighted the importance of addressing challenges between neighbours through honest dialogue and cooperation during his speech at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Islamabad.

Jaishankar congratulated Pakistan on assuming the chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of Government and assured India’s full cooperation throughout Pakistan’s tenure, according to Express news.

Speaking to the summit attendees, Jaishankar noted that the world is currently facing two major global conflicts, alongside the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has severely impacted developing nations.

He further pointed out that SCO member states are grappling with challenges like debt and other economic issues.

Jaishankar emphasised that one of the core objectives of the SCO charter is to promote mutual trust, friendship, and cooperation among neighbouring countries.

He urged that if relations between neighbours are not good, it is crucial to identify and address the underlying causes.

The Indian foreign minister reiterated that the SCO must focus on tackling terrorism, separatism, and extremism, three of the most significant challenges outlined in the organisation’s charter.

Jaishankar also stressed that implementing the SCO charter and fostering cooperation would not only benefit member states but also have a positive impact on the wider world.

He pointed out that globalisation and rebalancing are realities that cannot be ignored, and closer cooperation in trade, communication, and energy sectors would open new avenues for regional development.

Brief exchange amid more than decade-long tensions

Yesterday, Indian Foreign Minister Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar briefly interacted with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday at an official dinner held for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Islamabad.

The two leaders shook hands and exchanged courtesy greetings in a brief encounter lasting less than 20 seconds, as PM Shehbaz welcomed Jaishankar and other summit attendees.

Relations between India and Pakistan have been strained for nearly a decade. Jaishankar's visit marked the first by an Indian minister to Pakistan in nearly 10 years.

The last visit by an Indian foreign minister occurred in 2015 when Sushma Swaraj attended a conference on Afghanistan in Islamabad, with Jaishankar, then foreign secretary, accompanying her.

Despite earlier efforts to foster dialogue, including a surprise visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to then-Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, official talks between the two nations have largely stalled.

Jaishankar, ahead of his visit to Islamabad, clarified that his presence at the summit was strictly for the SCO, with no bilateral talks planned.