External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is set to arrive in Pakistan for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit on Tuesday, amid increased security measures and military deployment in the national capital.
Alongside Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Jaishankar will be among the senior regional officials attending the event. According to The Times of India, he will arrive just in time for the welcome dinner hosted by Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, which will take place before the main summit on Wednesday.
India-Pakistan Ties
The upcoming summit takes place as both countries have dismissed the possibility of any formal bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the event. Earlier this month, India announced that External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar would lead a delegation to Pakistan for the SCO summit in Islamabad. However, Minister Jaishankar has made it clear that bilateral talks are not on the agenda for his visit.
In response to a question about Jaishankar’s trip, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch stated, “I would like to draw your attention to the remarks made by the Indian Minister for External Affairs on October 5, where he emphasized that his visit was for a multilateral event and not for discussing Pakistan-India relations. These remarks are self-explanatory.”
Jaishankar’s visit to Pakistan is significant, marking a key decision by New Delhi. The relationship between India and Pakistan deteriorated sharply after Indian warplanes targeted a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist training camp in Balakot in February 2019, following the Pulwama terror attack. India maintains that it seeks normal neighborly relations with Pakistan but insists that Islamabad must foster an environment free from terror and hostility for meaningful engagement.
SCO Meeting
The 23rd meeting of the heads of government of the SCO member states is scheduled to take place in Islamabad on October 15 and 16, with authorities implementing strict security measures. As foreign delegations began arriving on Sunday, a 76-member delegation from Russia and seven representatives from the SCO reached Pakistan.
Additionally, a four-member official delegation from India has also arrived, according to airport sources reported by Geo News. A 15-member delegation from China, a four-member delegation from Kyrgyzstan, and a two-member delegation from Iran have also arrived in Islamabad.
Security Plan
In a statement, Islamabad Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Nasir Ali Rizvi announced that a “comprehensive” security plan has been developed in advance of the crucial summit in the federal capital. He stated, “Security personnel will be deployed in funnel areas, hotels, and locations where foreign delegations are staying,” emphasizing their commitment to ensuring the safety of foreign leaders, delegations, and guests.
Rizvi mentioned that search and intelligence-based operations are currently underway, with personnel from the Pakistan Army, intelligence agencies, Frontier Corps (FC), and Rangers actively engaged in their duties. He highlighted that over 9,000 police officers have been deployed for security. The government has also stationed army troops in the capital to address any potential issues and has imposed a ban on all forms of protests and rallies in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and other cities.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party has threatened to stage a protest on October 15 against the restrictions placed on its jailed leader, Imran Khan. They are demanding that the government allow him to meet with his family, legal team, and doctor. Amid these calls for protest, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stated that Pakistan is fully prepared to host the SCO summit.
“We are ready to extend a warm welcome to all summit participants, including the Indian foreign minister,” he stated during a walk-through event in Islamabad to review the arrangements for the event. He emphasized that Pakistan is hosting a major international event after several years and will fulfill its responsibilities with excellence.
Dar also mentioned that the Chinese Premier would engage in bilateral talks with his Pakistani counterpart. He noted that there has been no request for a bilateral meeting from India. Without directly naming the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Dar criticized the party for attempting to disrupt the summit with their protest calls. “Protests during nationally significant events do not convey a positive message,” he added. The SCO, established in 2001, aims to foster political, economic, and security cooperation in the region.
Source: News18
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