Pakistan has extended a formal invitation to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the upcoming gathering of heads of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) governments in Islamabad. The meeting, scheduled for October 15 and 16, will mark the first time in 8 years that Pakistan has invited the Indian leader to such an event. Despite the strained relationship between the two countries, diplomatic sources remain doubtful that Modi will attend the meeting in person.
The last time Modi participated in a regional summit hosted by Pakistan was in 2016 at the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit, which was ultimately boycotted by India and did not take place. Given the presence of other influential countries at the SCO meeting, it may not be easy for Modi to skip the event entirely, and he could potentially join virtually if unable to attend in person.
Despite the current tensions and diverging positions between Pakistan and India, regional groupings like the SCO have historically provided opportunities to reset their relations. However, given the present circumstances, the likelihood of such a reset appears slim.
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The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) serves as an important Eurasian political, economic, and security alliance. Originally founded by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan in 2001, it has now expanded to include India, Pakistan, and Iran as full members, with Afghanistan, Belarus, and Mongolia as observers, and other countries as dialogue partners. The SCO plays a significant role in fostering regional cooperation and addressing security concerns, including terrorism, extremism, and separatism.
Additionally, the organization promotes economic cooperation through initiatives such as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), seeking to enhance trade, energy partnerships, and infrastructure development across Eurasia. Furthermore, the SCO provides a platform for member states to align on major international issues, often challenging Western dominance in global affairs and advocating for a multipolar world order.
It’s been noted that Pakistan attended all the meetings of the SCO hosted by India last year either in person or virtually. Interestingly, there have been instances where the hosting country suddenly decided to hold the meeting virtually rather than in person, possibly due to geopolitical tensions with other member states.
