Indian Delegation Attends SCO Meeting In Pakistan, Pg12

Key Highlights:

• An Indian delegation, led by Joint Secretary Alok Dimri, attended a preparatory meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Islamabad.
• This marks the first official Indian visit to Pakistan since "Operation Sindoor" last year.
• Pakistan announced its intention to host the SCO Summit in August 2027.
• The meeting occurred shortly after India and Pakistan engaged in diplomatic exchanges regarding terrorism and Kashmir at the UN General Assembly (UNGA).
• India has not ruled out the possibility of Prime Minister Modi attending future high-level SCO meetings in Pakistan.

Detailed Insights:

• The three-day meeting of SCO National Coordinators commenced on Monday in Islamabad.
• India's representation at this meeting was at a higher level compared to previous gatherings under Pakistan's SCO Chairship.
• Earlier, India's Charge d’affaires had attended an SCO-Regional Anti-Terror Structure (RATS) meeting in Islamabad.
• Pakistan's theme for its SCO Chairship in 2026-2027 is "Turning Vision into Action: Connectivity, Innovation and Shared Prosperity."
• Indian officials clarified that the SCO coordinators’ meet was held in a multilateral format, distinct from bilateral India-Pakistan relations.
• This participation potentially paves the way for higher-level Indian attendance at future Ministerial and Heads of Council meetings.
• In 2023, India hosted the SCO Heads of Council Summit virtually and the Foreign Ministers' meeting in Goa.
• External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also attended the SCO Heads of Government meeting in Islamabad in 2024.
• India stated that decisions regarding new SCO memberships, such as Turkey's potential full membership, are a collective matter for existing members.
• India also criticized Turkish President Erdogan's reference to Kashmir during his address at the UNGA.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO): A Eurasian political, economic, and security alliance.
• SCO-Regional Anti-Terror Structure (RATS): A permanent body within the SCO focused on combating terrorism, separatism, and extremism.
• National Coordinators: Senior diplomats from member states responsible for preparing agendas and coordinating SCO activities.
• Multilateral format: Meetings or discussions involving multiple countries, typically within the framework of an international organization.