Jaishankar, Pakistan PM’s Rare Greeting At SCO: A Diplomatic Thaw?

In a moment signalling both continuity and tension in India-Pakistan relations, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, in Pakistan for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, briefly exchanged greetings with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Their interaction, which lasted less than twenty seconds, occurred at an official dinner held in Islamabad for all summit attendees.

The handshake and short courtesy exchange between Jaishankar and Sharif were a rare sight, as diplomatic engagement between India and Pakistan has been virtually nonexistent for almost a decade. Ties soured drastically after a series of terror attacks on Indian soil in 2015 and 2016, allegedly involving Pakistan-based terrorists. Since then, India has consistently maintained that any meaningful dialogue with Pakistan would require an environment free from terrorism, emphasising that "terror and talks cannot go hand-in-hand."

A Decade of No Dialogue

Jaishankar's presence in Pakistan marks the first visit by an Indian External Affairs Minister in nearly ten years. The previous visit was in December 2015, when then-EAM Sushma Swaraj travelled to Islamabad to attend a conference on Afghanistan, with Jaishankar, then Foreign Secretary, accompanying her. Shortly after Swaraj's visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made an unexpected stop in Pakistan to meet then-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, demonstrating India's initiative toward regional peace. However, hopes for improved ties were soon shattered by further terror incidents attributed to Pakistan-based groups.

Ahead of his arrival in Islamabad, Jaishankar clarified that his trip was exclusively for the SCO summit and that no bilateral discussions with Pakistani leaders were planned. "India, like with any neighbour, would certainly prefer good relations with Pakistan," he said, "but that cannot happen by overlooking cross-border terrorism and indulging in wishful thinking." His remarks underscored India's position that any diplomatic advancement depends on Pakistan's commitment to addressing terrorism.

A Diplomatic Commitment to the SCO

The SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG) summit, hosted by Pakistan on October 15 and 16, primarily focuses on trade and economic cooperation within the region. India's participation in the event, despite strained bilateral relations, reflects its commitment to the multilateral forum. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) noted that the annual CHG meeting centers around the economic agenda of the SCO, a platform where both India and Pakistan have stakes, especially in areas of regional stability and development.

As the summit proceeds, Jaishankar's presence in Islamabad is a reminder of the complex, often challenging relationship between India and Pakistan. The brief interaction with Prime Minister Sharif, though symbolic, has not altered India's firm stance on the prerequisites for sustained dialogue: an unequivocal commitment to combatting terrorism and creating an environment conducive to peace.