8.31°C Vancouver

Oct 4, 2024 1:13 PM - Connect Newsroom - Mandeep Kaur

Jaishankar to visit Pakistan for SCO Summit, first Indian ministerial visit in nine years

Share On
indias-foreign-minister-s-jaishankar-will-go-to-pakistan
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will visit Pakistan to attend the SCO Summit on October 15–16. (Photo: Facebook/Dr S. Jaishankar)

India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will travel to Pakistan next week to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit scheduled for October 15–16, the Ministry of External Affairs confirmed on Friday. This will mark the first visit by an Indian minister to Pakistan in nearly nine years.

Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Jaishankar will represent India at the regional meeting, which brings together foreign ministers and heads of state from member countries to discuss security, economic cooperation, and regional connectivity.

Pakistan had formally invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the summit on August 29, extending the same invitation to all SCO member nations. However, India has decided that Jaishankar will lead its delegation.

The last high-level Indian visit to Pakistan took place in 2015, when Prime Minister Modi made an unannounced stop in Lahore to meet then-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Later that year, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj also visited Islamabad for the Heart of Asia conference. No Indian minister has visited Pakistan since then.

The upcoming summit is being closely watched in diplomatic circles, as tensions between the two neighbours remain high despite both sides participating in multilateral forums such as the SCO.

Latest news

two-charged-in-murder-of-missing-11-year-old-kai-pavlovic-in-burnaby
BCNov 02, 2026

Two Charged in Murder of Missing 11-Year-Old Kai Pavlovic in Burnaby

Police have charged two people in connection with the murder of 11-year-old Kai Pavlovic, who went missing in Burnaby in 2025. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) announced Monday that the child was reported missing on September 26, 2025, during a health-related check. Following an extensive investigation, 51-year-old Burnaby resident Branko Bijelic was arrested on October 30, 2026. He has been charged with second-degree murder and indignity to human remains. Meanwhile, 46-year-old Sarah Bijelic has been charged with manslaughter. Sgt. Freda Fong said there will be many questions
29-year-old-woman-found-dead-in-west-edmonton-home-police-investigating-suspicious-death
AlbertaNov 02, 2026

29-Year-Old Woman Found Dead in West Edmonton Home, Police Investigating Suspicious Death

A 29-year-old woman has been found dead inside a home in West Edmonton, with police investigating the death as suspicious. According to Edmonton police, officers were called to a home near 95 Avenue and 164 Street at around 6 p.m. on Friday to conduct a welfare check. Upon arrival, they found the woman dead inside the residence. An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday to determine the exact cause of death. Homicide detectives are currently investigating the case. Police are urging anyone with information related to the incident to contact them.
b-c-conservatives-to-form-new-government-on-november-20-doerkson-announces
BCNov 02, 2026

B.C. Conservatives to Form New Government on November 20, Doerkson Announces

British Columbia’s new government is set to take office on November 20, Premier-designate Lorne Doerkson announced today. According to Doerkson, the province’s newly elected MLAs will be sworn in on November 19, followed by the formation of the new cabinet on November 20. Speaking ahead of his party’s first caucus meeting in Victoria, Doerkson said his government would fulfil all the promises made to the public during the election campaign. Among the key priorities, he pledged to repeal the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA), provide tax relief and strengthen pub
small-businesses-set-to-receive-relief-in-budget-as-tax-rules-may-be-simplified-françois-philippe-champagne
CanadaNov 02, 2026

Small Businesses Set to Receive Relief in Budget as Tax Rules May Be Simplified: François-Philippe Champagne

Canada’s Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne has indicated that the federal budget to be tabled on Thursday will include new measures to support small and medium-sized businesses, potentially including steps to simplify tax procedures. Speaking during a question-and-answer session at the Canadian Club in Toronto, Champagne said the budget would be largely focused on entrepreneurs, innovators and creators, with small businesses expected to receive significant relief. Addressing the current tax system, the minister acknowledged that Canada’s tax code contains several complicated ru
BCNov 02, 2026

One person has died following a house fire in Chilliwack, British Columbia.

According to officials, the fire broke out Friday afternoon at a home near Young Road and Henley Avenue. The blaze originated in the basement of the house. Firefighters received a call about the incident at approximately 2:15 p.m. Upon arriving at the scene, they discovered that someone was trapped inside the home. The Chilliwack Fire Department said firefighters worked hard to bring the blaze under control and managed to rescue one person from inside the house. Unfortunately, the individual was pronounced dead at the scene. Fire Chief Andrew Brown said the cause of the fire is under investiga

Related News