Pakistan has officially invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit set for mid-October in Islamabad, according to official sources. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif extended the invitation to Modi and other SCO leaders for the regional leaders’ meeting scheduled for October 15 and 16.
This marks the first time in eight years that Pakistan has invited the Indian leader. Modi last received a regional invitation to the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit in 2016, which was ultimately boycotted by India, rendering the organization largely inactive since then.
Given the presence of other influential nations, Modi’s participation in the SCO meeting, whether in person or virtually, will be closely watched. However, diplomatic sources express doubt about Modi’s travel to Islamabad due to the current state of India-Pakistan relations. In the past, regional summits have offered opportunities for diplomatic engagement, but with ongoing divergences between the two countries, a significant rapprochement appears unlikely.
The SCO, established in 2001 by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, has grown to include India, Pakistan, and Iran as full members, with Afghanistan, Belarus, and Mongolia as observers, among others. It serves as a significant regional alliance focused on political, economic, and security issues, countering Western alliances like NATO.
Pakistan participated in all SCO meetings hosted by India last year, either in person or virtually. Notably, Bilawal Bhutto attended the SCO Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Goa in May 2023, while India’s decision to host the SCO summit virtually instead of in person was influenced by tensions with China and Pakistan.
The SCO plays a crucial role in regional security, economic cooperation, and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and provides a platform for members to align on major international issues. The 23rd SCO Summit, held on July 4, 2023, was hosted by India via video conference.
