Skip to Main content

18.71°^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

stephen-harper-praises-carneys-trade-diversification-and-energy-policies

CanadaSep 16, 2026

Stephen Harper Praises Carney’s Trade Diversification and Energy Policies

Former Canadian Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper has praised Prime Minister Mark Carney’s efforts to diversify Canada’s trade during his closing remarks at the two-day Canada Investment Summit in Toronto. Harper supported the federal government’s decisions in the energy sector and said Canada had little choice but to step back from trade negotiations with the United States. He said reducing Canada’s dependence on the U.S. and redirecting trade toward other countries would bring challenges, but expressed confidence that Canadians would be able to manage them. Harper also prais

poilievre-leads-two-day-conservative-caucus-meeting-in-b-c

CanadaSep 16, 2026

Poilievre Leads Two-Day Conservative Caucus Meeting in B.C.

Canada’s Official Opposition Conservative Party has begun a two-day parliamentary caucus meeting in Penticton, B.C., under the leadership of Pierre Poilievre. The meeting comes ahead of the parliamentary session starting September 21 and is expected to give Poilievre an opportunity to rally his MPs, as the Conservatives are currently trailing the Liberals by double digits in the polls. According to reports, several Conservative MPs who have returned from working in their ridings during the summer break are increasingly concerned about potentially losing their seats in the next election. Cont

CanadaSep 16, 2026

EU opens talks for Canada to become its first associate member

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has proposed opening talks on making Canada the European Union’s first associate member. The proposal was made Wednesday during von der Leyen’s annual address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in attendance. Addressing Carney, von der Leyen said the EU wants to take its relationship with Canada “to the highest level.” She said the partnership extends beyond trade and is based on shared values, including cooperation on artificial intelligence, climate change, the Arctic and geopolitical i

carney-signals-visa-talks-for-canadians-during-europe-trip

CanadaSep 15, 2026

Carney Signals Visa Talks for Canadians During Europe Trip

Prime Minister Mark Carney has indicated that visa requirements for Canadians could be raised during his visit to Europe as Canada seeks to deepen its strategic and economic relationship with the European Union. Carney left Canada Tuesday for a three-day trip to Strasbourg, France, and Liverpool, UK. In Strasbourg, he is attending European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s annual State of the Union address and will address the European Parliament on Thursday. During the trip, Carney is also expected to meet UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham in Liverpool for discussions on defence, s

Surrey’s $310M Newton Community Centre Construction Officially Begins

Construction has officially begun on the new Newton Community Centre in Surrey, marking one of the largest investment projects in the city’s history. According to the City of Surrey, construction crews are currently removing the old structures and preparing and levelling the site. Mayor Brenda Locke said the 175,000-square-foot modern community hub will bring a major transformation to Newton by bringing recreation, cultural and library services together under one roof. The $310-million project near King George Boulevard will feature a 50-metre swimming pool, a leisure pool, two gymnasiums, a

Related News

Russia welcomes Trump appeal for Ukraine to halt attacks on fuel facilities

Russia welcomes Trump appeal for Ukraine to halt attacks on fuel facilities

Russia on Monday welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump’s appeal for Ukraine to stop targeting Russian diesel production and fuel infrastructure. Trump on Sunday urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy not to target Russia’s diesel facilities, saying the attacks were contributing to fuel shortages and causing wider harm. Ukraine has carried out long-range drone attacks on Russian oil refineries and other energy infrastructure in recent months. The strikes have affected fuel production, with shortages of gasoline and other fuels reported in parts of Russia. Ukraine has said its attacks

Trump Signals Canada-U.S. Trade Deal Could Be Reached Soon

Trump Signals Canada-U.S. Trade Deal Could Be Reached Soon

U.S. President Donald Trump has suggested that a trade deal between the United States and Canada could be reached soon, despite the ongoing trade war between the two countries. Speaking to reporters in Ireland over the weekend, Trump said relations with Mexico were expected to be very good and that relations with Canada were also good. However, he accused Ottawa of discriminating against the United States for the past 50 years. Trump also repeated his claim that the U.S. does not need Canadian goods, arguing that Canada’s business depends heavily on trade with the United States. Formal negot

Senior Hamas Commander Killed in Israeli Airstrike on Gaza, Military Says

Senior Hamas Commander Killed in Israeli Airstrike on Gaza, Military Says

The Israeli military on Friday claimed that a senior Hamas commander was killed in an airstrike in Gaza carried out on Thursday. Hamas’ armed wing also confirmed the death of Mohammed Abdul Salam al-Yazouri, saying he was killed in Thursday’s airstrike and had played a key role in planning the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel. According to the Israeli military, two other Hamas commanders were also killed in the strike targeting Yazouri. Israel has continued carrying out airstrikes across Gaza. While Hamas confirmed Yazouri’s death, it did not immediately provide further comment on the

Legals

Journalism code of ethics

© 2021 AKASH Broadcasting Inc.

MANAGED BY STRATWIT

useful links

Accessibility Plan

Broadcasting Notice of Consultation

BC Children's Hospital