Skip to Main content

13.25°^C Vancouver

News Entertainment Sports Videos Shows Podcast Contact Us

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

AlbertaJun 05, 2026

Edmonton police charge man in alleged sexual offences involving minor, seek additional victims

Edmonton police have charged a 30-year-old man in connection with alleged sexual offences involving a minor and say investigators believe there may be additional victims. According to the Edmonton Police Service, Brian Brook Kaskamin was arrested on June 2 and faces several charges, including sexual offences involving a minor and administering an intoxicating substance. The allegations have not been tested in court. Police allege Kaskamin used the Grindr app to contact minors and would often invite vulnerable youth to his residence in northeast Edmonton. Investigators said they are concerned t

vancouver-police-seize-drugs-cash-and-weapons-in-downtown-eastside-trafficking-investigation

Vancouver police seize drugs, cash and weapons in Downtown Eastside trafficking investigation

Vancouver Police say officers seized more than $79,000 worth of illegal drugs, cash and weapons following a targeted drug trafficking investigation in the city's Downtown Eastside. According to a Vancouver Police Department release, the operation, known as Project Bingo, began in December 2025 after investigators observed suspected drug trafficking activity at a single-room occupancy (SRO) building near East Hastings Street and Princess Avenue. Police said investigators spent approximately six months gathering evidence before executing a search warrant at the building last month. Officers repo

no-injuries-reported-after-shots-fired-from-moving-vehicle-at-nanaimo-park

No injuries reported after shots fired from moving vehicle at Nanaimo park

Nanaimo RCMP are investigating after shots were reportedly fired from a moving vehicle toward people gathered at a local park on Wednesday evening. According to police, the incident occurred at about 8:40 p.m. at Knowles Park near the intersection of Old Victoria Road and Rainier Street. Witnesses reported that the suspects were travelling in a white Audi vehicle carrying multiple occupants. Police said the vehicle left the area immediately after the shooting. No injuries were reported. Investigators believe the shooting was targeted and not a random attack on members of the public. RCMP have

B.C. adds 25,000 jobs in May as unemployment rate holds at 6.8%

British Columbia added 25,000 jobs in May, according to the latest Labour Force Survey released by Statistics Canada, reversing part of the employment losses recorded earlier this year. The gain follows a three-month period from February through April during which the province lost approximately 40,000 jobs. Despite the increase in employment, B.C.'s overall unemployment rate remained unchanged at 6.8 per cent. According to Statistics Canada data, much of the job growth was concentrated in the construction and manufacturing sectors. B.C. Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation Minister Ravi

CanadaJun 05, 2026

Canada joins 11 international partners in calling for restraint amid Lebanon–Israel attacks

Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand has joined counterparts from 11 international partners, including Australia and Denmark, in issuing a joint statement expressing concern over ongoing attacks between Lebanon and Israel. The ministers welcomed ongoing ceasefire efforts aimed at reducing tensions in the region and called on all parties to exercise maximum restraint to prevent further escalation. According to the joint statement, civilians must be protected at all times. The ministers said the people of Lebanon have already endured significant hardship and stressed the importance of s

Related News

12 killed in Sri Lanka nursing home fire; investigation underway

12 killed in Sri Lanka nursing home fire; investigation underway

A fire at a nursing home in western Sri Lanka killed 12 residents and injured eight others, according to Sri Lankan police. The fire broke out late Wednesday at a care facility in the town of Anguruwatota. Police said 51 residents were rescued from the building. Police spokesperson Fredrick Wootler said emergency responders attended the scene and survivors were taken to safety. Authorities have not yet released details on the cause of the fire. The director of the nursing home has been arrested on suspicion of causing deaths through negligence, police said. Investigators are examining the circ

Ford Pushes Back After Trump Again Refers to Canada as ‘51st State’

Ford Pushes Back After Trump Again Refers to Canada as ‘51st State’

Ontario Premier Doug Ford is pushing back against renewed comments from U.S. President Donald Trump, who once again referred to Canada as the “51st state” in a social media post Tuesday. In a post on X, Ford said Canada “will never be the 51st state” and is “not for sale.” His comments came after Trump shared a Bloomberg report about Canada's economy and described the country as the “51st State.” The post was later reshared by U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra, drawing further attention to Trump's remarks. According to the social media posts, Trump’s references to Canad

Iran Suspends Ceasefire Talks With U.S. Following Israeli Strikes in Lebanon

Iran Suspends Ceasefire Talks With U.S. Following Israeli Strikes in Lebanon

Iran has suspended ongoing ceasefire-related talks with the United States following recent Israeli military strikes in Lebanon, according to Iranian media reports. Iranian officials said maintaining peace and stability in Lebanon was a key condition of any ceasefire framework. Tehran argues that the agreement is now being violated on multiple fronts, including in Lebanon. Iran has called for an immediate halt to Israeli military operations in both Gaza and Lebanon. It has also demanded the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory. According to Iranian media, Iranian authoritie

Legals

Journalism code of ethics

© 2021 AKASH Broadcasting Inc.

MANAGED BY STRATWIT

useful links

Accessibility Plan

Broadcasting Notice of Consultation

BC Children's Hospital