Jaishankar’s Historic Visit To Pakistan For SCO Summit: A New Chapter In India-Pakistan Relations?

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar touched down in Islamabad on October 15, marking a historic moment as the first Indian External Affairs Minister to visit Pakistan in nearly a decade.

Jaishankar, who is in the capital to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Government Meeting, received a warm welcome from Pakistan's Foreign Ministry.

The visit is particularly notable as the last visit of its kind was in December 2015 by then-EAM Sushma Swaraj, accompanied by Jaishankar in his former role as India's Foreign Secretary. In a statement to The Indian Express, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, emphasised Pakistan's hospitality, stating, "He is a guest of Pakistan. Pakistan has welcomed all leaders who have decided to attend this conference."

A Diplomatic Backdrop in Islamabad

As the SCO meeting unfolds, the Pakistani capital has taken on a vibrant atmosphere. LED lights on the city's main roads welcome visiting dignitaries, particularly Chinese Premier Li Qiang, the first Chinese Premier to visit Pakistan in over a decade. Premier Li was greeted personally by Pakistan's Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, underscoring the Pakistan-China partnership, visibly celebrated on the streets lined with Chinese and Pakistani flags. The SCO's media centre is situated in the China-Pakistan Friendship Centre, a symbol of Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative.

Meanwhile, at the India-Pakistan border near Wagah, posters of Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani alongside Pakistan's founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah reflect Pakistan's ongoing stance on Kashmir. This imagery sends a signal about the geopolitical landscape surrounding the SCO summit.

Key Exchanges: Jaishankar Meets Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif

On Tuesday, Jaishankar engaged in a cordial meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during a dinner hosted for SCO dignitaries. Video footage showed the two exchanging a handshake and brief words, underscoring a moment of diplomatic civility amid historically complex relations.

Jaishankar's visit to Islamabad has fueled speculation on potential shifts in Indo-Pak relations, with discussions focused on whether this visit could signal a diplomatic reset. Relations between India and Pakistan have been strained over incidents of cross-border terrorism and the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.

However, Jaishankar's recent statement, hinting at the possibility of his visit, emphasised the importance of flexibility in diplomacy. "In my business, you plan for everything that you are going to do, and for a lot of things that you are not going to do, and which could happen also, you plan for that as well," he had noted earlier this month.

As the SCO sessions begin on Wednesday, there is a growing sense of anticipation on whether Jaishankar's visit could represent the beginning of a new phase in India-Pakistan relations.