The upcoming visit of External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to Pakistan for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit is generating significant interest in the geopolitical landscape of South Asia. It marks the first time in nearly nine years that a high-ranking Indian dignitary will travel to Pakistan, a country with which India has shared strained relations over the past several decades. However, it is important to underscore that this visit is strictly for the purpose of participating in a multilateral event-the SCO summit. Minister Jaishankar has explicitly clarified that this is not an occasion for bilateral dialogue with Pakistan, emphasising India’s focus on its role as a responsible member of the SCO.
The establishment of the SCO in 2001 aimed to foster economic cooperation, combat terrorism, and ensure regional security. Over the years, the SCO has expanded its influence and become an important platform for dialogue and cooperation on key regional and global issues. India and Pakistan became full members in 2017. Since then, India has participated actively in the organisation, showing a particular interest in deepening security-related cooperation, particularly through the SCO’s Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure. Jaishankar’s upcoming visit to Pakistan for the SCO summit underscores India’s commitment to multilateralism and its constructive participation in regional platforms like the SCO.
Amid the buzz surrounding this high-profile visit, Jaishankar’s clear statement that no bilateral talks will be held with Pakistan has laid to rest any speculation that this could be an opportunity for India and Pakistan to engage in direct dialogue. The clarification is critical in the context of ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan. Relations between the two nations have been particularly strained since the Pulwama terror attack in 2019, which was followed by India’s airstrikes on a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist training camp in Balakot, Pakistan. India has consistently maintained that dialogue with Pakistan cannot occur until Islamabad takes concrete steps to stop cross-border terrorism. Jaishankar reiterated this stance during his recent remarks, where he indirectly pointed to Pakistan’s role in derailing the SAARC. Practically, the inactivity of SAARC is due to Pakistan’s involvement in cross-border terrorism. This observation by EAM reflects India’s broader foreign policy stance: regional cooperation is impossible in an environment where terrorism is being fostered by one of the key actors.
India’s willingness to engage multilaterally, even with countries with which it has fraught bilateral ties, demonstrates its commitment to fostering stability in the region. The SCO, unlike SAARC, has become a viable platform for dialogue and cooperation, even as India refrains from engaging bilaterally with Pakistan. India has consistently demanded that Pakistan take credible action against terrorist groups operating on its soil and targeting India. The Pulwama attack of 2019 was a glaring reminder of the ongoing threat posed by cross-border terrorism. In this context, Jaishankar’s visit to Pakistan for the SCO summit is not an indication of a softening of India’s stance on terrorism. Instead, it is a reflection of India’s commitment to its multilateral obligations while maintaining a firm line on its bilateral concerns with Pakistan.
Over the past decade, India has made significant strides both democratically and economically. It is now time for Pakistan to reflect on what it has truly gained by continuing to use terrorism as a state policy. The responsibility lies with Pakistan to take decisive action against terrorism if it seeks to establish cordial relations with India. The message is clear: India is committed to regional stability, but it does not signal a shift in its policy towards Pakistan. India’s position is clear: the onus is on Pakistan to create an environment free of terrorism and hostility if any form of bilateral engagement is to take place. Ball is clearly in Pakistan’s court. Until that happens, forums like the SCO will continue to be the primary means through which India engages with Pakistan in a structured and multilateral setting.
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