External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar has clarified that his upcoming visit to Pakistan is for a multilateral event, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit, not for India-Pakistan dialogue. Addressing the media on Saturday, Jaishankar emphasized that the visit, scheduled for October 15-16, is purely related to India’s obligations as a member of the SCO, and there will be no discussions on bilateral relations between India and Pakistan.
Acknowledging the media attention his visit might attract, Jaishankar reiterated, “I’m not going there to discuss India-Pakistan relations. I’m going there to be a good member of the SCO,” adding that he would behave with civility while attending the event.
Pakistan is hosting the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting this year, marking Jaishankar’s first visit to the country in nearly a decade. He further noted that while tensions between the two nations persist, particularly over issues like terrorism, his visit is not intended to address these matters directly.
Jaishankar also discussed the challenges faced by the SCO, attributing its aspirational failures to Pakistan’s support for terrorism. “Terrorism is something unacceptable. One of our neighbors continues to support terrorism, and there must be consequences,” he remarked, indirectly referring to Pakistan.
He highlighted India’s increasing regional integration with countries like Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka, emphasizing progress on infrastructure projects such as railway lines, roads, and electricity grids.
Jaishankar also used the occasion to call for reforms to the United Nations, pointing out that the global body has not evolved to reflect today’s economic and political realities. He stressed that the management structure of the UN needs to change, given that the organization now has 193 members, compared to 51 at its founding.
This visit marks a significant diplomatic event, with India maintaining its stance against cross-border terrorism while continuing to fulfill its international obligations.
