Pakistan has said it will invite the Heads of State and Government of all Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member countries for the SCO Summit scheduled to be held in Islamabad next year. The clarification came after the country’s Foreign Ministry was asked whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi would receive an invitation for the summit.
The announcement comes at a time when relations between India and Pakistan remain deeply strained following last year’s military confrontation and continued diplomatic tensions.
Pakistan says inviting all SCO members is its responsibility
Responding to a journalist’s question, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said invitations would be sent to every SCO member nation in line with its role as the host country.
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“All member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization will be invited at the level of the Heads of State or Government, should they wish to attend at the level of the Head of Government.”
The ministry further added, “Invitations will obviously be extended, and this is an obligation on the part of Pakistan as the host. We will invite all Heads of States and Government to the Summit meeting.”
The statement indicates that the invitation process will cover every SCO member, including India.
Pakistan responds to question on Jaishankar meeting
During the same media interaction, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry was also asked whether External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had sought a meeting with his Pakistani counterpart on the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Manila, where both leaders were present.
Replying to the query, the ministry said, “I am not aware of any meeting request from India on the sidelines of the ARF in Manila. I cannot comment.”
No further details were shared regarding any possible diplomatic engagement between the two sides.
India-Pakistan relations remain under strain
Bilateral ties between India and Pakistan have remained frozen for years. Formal dialogue has not resumed since New Delhi suspended the composite dialogue process following the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, in which 166 people were killed. India has maintained that the attacks were carried out by the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
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Although there have been occasional attempts to revive political engagement, repeated terror incidents have stalled those efforts. More recently, India responded to the Pahalgam terror attack with a series of diplomatic and economic measures, including four days of military strikes targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and the suspension of the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty. These developments have pushed relations between the two neighbours to one of their lowest points in recent years.
FAQs:
Will PM Modi be invited to the SCO Summit in Pakistan?
Yes. Pakistan has said it will invite all Heads of State and Government of SCO member countries, including India.
Has PM Modi confirmed whether he will attend the SCO Summit in Pakistan?
No. Pakistan has announced invitations will be sent, but there has been no confirmation from India on PM Modi’s participation.
