Watch: Jaishankar welcomes Pakistan counterpart Bilawal Bhutto in Goa

External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar today welcomed his Pakistan counterpart, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari at the SCO council of foreign ministers in Goa.

Bhutto is the first Pakistan minister to visit India in nearly 12 years.

Photo Credit: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar with Pakistan's Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari before the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, in Goa. PTI Photo

Jaishankar welcomed his counterpart for the ongoing meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) which is taking place in Goa. Both leaders exchanged pleasantries and posed for photographs before Bhutto headed for the meeting.

Earlier Jaishankar also welcomed CO Secretary-General Zhang Ming and foreign ministers of Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan for the CFM meeting in Goa.

On Thursday post his arrival Bhutto Zardari attended a reception hosted by Jaishankar for the visiting foreign ministers. A few people who are part of Bhutto's entourage claimed that Jaishankar had shaken hands with the Pakistan foreign minister, there is however no confirmation of the same.

The Pakistan foreign minister was received at the Goa airport by the joint secretary heading the Pakistan-Afghanistan-Iran division at the external affairs ministry, J P Singh.

"I am very happy to reach Goa to lead the Pakistani delegation at the SCO Foreign Ministers meeting. I expect the SCO CFM meeting to be successful," Bhutto Zardari told reporters.

Assalamualaikum, we have reached Goa for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meet," he also said in a tweet.

"I will first hold a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister. Then, will hold a meeting with Uzbekistan's Foreign Minister. I will attend the dinner hosted for all the foreign ministers," he had said in a short video posted before his departure to India from Pakistan.