20.18°C Vancouver
connect fm logo

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

See All
BCJul 30, 2026

129 Wildfires Active Across B.C. as Brunswick Complex Fire Remains Out of Control

British Columbia's Minister of Forests and BC Wildfire Service, Ravi Parmar, says 129 wildfires are currently active across the province. According to the BC Wildfire Service, nine of those fires were discovered within the past 24 hours. Parmar said hot, dry conditions combined with strong winds continue to make firefighting efforts challenging. He said the weather is increasing the risk of new wildfire starts and could cause existing fires to grow. Fire crews are working to contain newly reported fires while continuing suppression efforts on incidents already burning. The minister said additi
supreme-court-allows-judicial-review-of-ethics-ruling-on-trudeaus-involvement-in-we-charity-decisions
CanadaJul 30, 2026

Supreme Court allows judicial review of ethics ruling on Trudeau's involvement in WE Charity decisions

The Supreme Court of Canada has ruled that Democracy Watch can proceed with a judicial review of a federal ethics commissioner's decision that cleared former prime minister Justin Trudeau of wrongdoing in relation to decisions involving WE Charity. The case stems from a May 2021 report by then–Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner Mario Dion, who concluded Trudeau did not contravene the Conflict of Interest Act when he participated in government decisions concerning WE Charity, an organization that operated programs in Canada and internationally. Democracy Watch sought judicial review
illegal-firearm-smuggling-through-surrey-border-crossing-leads-to-jail-sentence
BCJul 30, 2026

Illegal firearm smuggling through Surrey border crossing leads to jail sentence

A man has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison and prohibited from possessing firearms for 10 years after admitting to smuggling a loaded handgun into Canada through the Surrey border area. According to RCMP Federal Policing Pacific Region Media Relations Officer Cpl. Parmbir Kahlon, the investigation began on Sept. 11, 2025, after the United States Border Patrol notified Canadian authorities that an individual had crossed illegally into Canada near 183 Street and 0 Avenue in Surrey. The RCMP's Integrated Border Enforcement Team (IBET) responded and arrested Jaskaran Banth under th
supreme-court-issues-notice-to-punjab-cm-bhagwant-mann-aap-leaders-in-2020-protest-case
IndiaJul 30, 2026

Supreme Court issues notice to Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, AAP leaders in 2020 protest case

The Supreme Court has issued notices to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and several Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders on a petition filed by the Chandigarh Administration challenging a Punjab and Haryana High Court ruling that quashed a rioting case linked to a 2020 protest against higher electricity tariffs. The notices were issued to Mann, Harpal Singh Cheema, Gurmeet Singh, Meet Hayer, Baljinder Kaur, Aman Arora and others, directing them to respond to the Chandigarh Administration's petition. During the hearing, the Additional Solicitor General argued that the High Court's decision was leg
ihit-identifies-langley-homicide-victim-appeals-for-witnesses-and-dashcam-footage
BCJul 30, 2026

IHIT identifies Langley homicide victim, appeals for witnesses and dashcam footage

The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) has identified the victim in a Langley homicide investigation as 75-year-old Larry Greig. According to IHIT, the incident began at about 9:50 p.m. on Canada Day, July 1, when Langley RCMP responded to a report of an elderly man in medical distress near Park Avenue and Douglas Crescent. IHIT spokesperson Sgt. Freda Fong said Greig had just left a local pub when he became involved in a physical altercation with another person. He suffered serious injuries in the incident and died in hospital on July 9. As part of the ongoing investigation, IHIT h

Related News

More than 100 aftershocks follow powerful earthquake in Japan's Kyushu region; death toll rises to 13

More than 100 aftershocks follow powerful earthquake in Japan's Kyushu region; death toll rises to 13

Rescue crews in Japan's Kyushu region continued search operations Wednesday after a magnitude 6.8 earthquake triggered more than 100 aftershocks, leaving at least 13 people dead, according to Japanese authorities. The hardest-hit areas include Kumamoto Prefecture, where emergency crews are searching through the rubble of a paper factory and a shopping mall despite high temperatures. Authorities said the damage worsened after an explosion occurred at the shopping mall about an hour after the initial earthquake. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said rescue efforts remain focused on reachin
Zelenskyy to meet Trump in Washington seeking stronger air defence support for Ukraine

Zelenskyy to meet Trump in Washington seeking stronger air defence support for Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on Tuesday for talks focused on strengthening Ukraine’s defence capabilities against ballistic missile attacks. According to Ukrainian officials, the discussions are expected to include continued U.S. support for Ukraine’s air defence systems, including efforts related to Patriot missile interceptors. Ukraine has said it needs additional Patriot interceptors to help counter Russian ballistic missile attacks. The meeting comes as Russia has increased missile and drone strikes targeting Ukr
Power outages, infrastructure damage reported after 7.1-magnitude earthquake strikes Japan's Kumamoto region

Power outages, infrastructure damage reported after 7.1-magnitude earthquake strikes Japan's Kumamoto region

A 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Japan's southern Kumamoto region on Tuesday, causing widespread power outages, damage to roads and buildings, and disrupting transportation, according to Japanese authorities. Police said several people are believed to be trapped under debris following structural collapses. Authorities have also warned residents to remain alert for strong aftershocks. Local reports indicate that more than 50 injured people were admitted to one hospital, while several others were hurt after a bullet train reportedly derailed during the earthquake. Officials initially issued a t
connect fm logo

Legals

Privacy policy
Journalism code of ethics
© 2021 AKASH Broadcasting Inc.
MANAGED BY STRATWIT

useful links

About
Advertisers
Careers
Contact
Feedback
Accessibility Plan
Broadcasting Notice of Consultation
BC Children's Hospital
Android app linkApple app link