Pakistan to host SCO coordinators' meet from Sept 28-30, India to participate
Quick Look
- Pakistan will host the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation national coordinators' meeting from September 28-30, with India participating.
- The meeting will approve an events calendar under Pakistan's presidency, leading to the Council of Heads of State summit where PM Narendra Modi may be invited.
- India joined SCO in 2017 and has participated actively, though no substantive bilateral engagement has occurred in a decade.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
India joined the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation as a full member in 2017 and has participated in its mechanisms, including heads of state and government meetings. The Saarc summit process has been blocked due to India's reluctance to engage bilaterally with Pakistan.
Pakistan to host SCO coordinators’ meet from Sept 28-30
NEW DELHI: India will participate in a meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) national coordinators to be hosted by Pakistan from Sept 28-30, official sources have said. The meeting is expected to approve a calendar of events under Pakistan's presidency, culminating in Council of Heads of State summit, for which Islamabad will invite leaders of all member-states, including PM Narendra Modi. India joined the grouping as a full member in 2017. It has since participated actively in SCO mechanisms, with Modi attending heads of state summits and external affairs minister S Jaishankar joining heads of govt meetings.
Alok Dimri is expected to attend the national coordinators' meeting starting Monday. Despite no substantive bilateral engagement for a decade, Indian and Pakistani officials have visited each other's countries for SCO-related exercises. However, the key question is whether Modi will attend the summit in Islamabad next year. The Saarc summit process remains blocked because of the PM's reluctance to travel to Pakistan.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Pakistan will approve a calendar of SCO events leading to the Council of Heads of State summit
Very likely · Within weeks
Alok Dimri will attend the national coordinators' meeting starting Monday
Very likely · Within days
Open Questions
- Will Prime Minister Narendra Modi attend the SCO Council of Heads of State summit in Islamabad next year?
- What specific events will be included in the calendar approved under Pakistan's presidency?
- Will there be any bilateral talks on the sidelines of the SCO coordinators' meeting?
