S Jaishankar, India’s External Affairs Minister, is in Pakistan to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Islamabad. During an official dinner for summit attendees, he had a brief interaction with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
A Short Exchange
The meeting between the two leaders lasted less than twenty seconds, marked by a handshake and a polite greeting. This brief exchange highlights the current state of India-Pakistan relations, which have been nearly non-existent for the past decade.
Decade of Silence in Dialogue
The lack of communication stems from a series of terror attacks carried out by Pakistan-based militants against Indian military targets in 2015 and 2016. India has consistently emphasized that peace talks cannot proceed in the face of ongoing terrorism. The Indian government has made it clear that “dialogue and diplomacy can only move forward in an environment free of terrorism.”
Historic Context of the Visit
Mr. Jaishankar’s visit marks the first by an Indian minister to Pakistan in nearly ten years. The last visit occurred when his predecessor, Sushma Swaraj, attended a conference on Afghanistan. Jaishankar accompanied her during that trip. Following Swaraj’s visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made headlines with a surprise visit to then-Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. However, efforts for peace have repeatedly been disrupted by terrorist activities originating from Pakistan.
No Bilateral Talks Planned
Before departing for Islamabad, Mr. Jaishankar stated at a press conference in New Delhi that his visit was solely for the SCO Summit, with no plans for bilateral talks with Pakistan. He reiterated, “India desires good relations with Pakistan, but that cannot happen by ignoring cross-border terrorism.”
Focus of the SCO Summit
Pakistan is hosting the two-day SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG) summit on October 15-16. The meeting will center on the trade and economic agenda of the organization, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
