3.65°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

rcmp-seek-to-identify-person-of-interest-in-2024-suspicious-death-in-prince-george
BCMar 26, 2026

RCMP seek to identify person of interest in 2024 suspicious death in Prince George

Prince George RCMP say their investigation into a suspicious death following a house fire in September 2024 is ongoing, and officers are asking the public to help identify a person of interest. Police said they are continuing to gather witness accounts from the night of the incident. “Police continue to seek witnesses to the events of that evening, in order to help bring closure to the family and friends of the deceased,” said Cpl. Jennifer Cooper, media relations officer with Prince George RCMP, in a statement. According to an RCMP news release, officers responded to a house fire on Sept.
b-c-conservative-mla-hon-chan-removed-from-caucus-amid-reported-criminal-charges
BCMar 26, 2026

B.C. Conservative MLA Hon Chan removed from caucus amid reported criminal charges

The Conservative Party of British Columbia says Richmond Centre MLA Hon Chan has been removed from its caucus after the party was made aware he is facing what it described as “serious criminal charges.” In a statement, interim leader Trevor Halford said the party takes “any allegations of domestic violence” seriously, but did not provide details about the nature of the charges or when they were laid. No court documents or police statements were immediately cited in the party’s release, and the allegations have not been independently verified. The party did not say whether Chan will c
WorldMar 26, 2026

Drone strikes in Sudan kill at least 28 civilians amid ongoing conflict

At least 28 civilians were killed in two separate drone attacks in Sudan on Wednesday, according to local authorities, as fighting continues in the country’s ongoing civil war that began in 2023. In North Darfur, an attack struck a market in the city of Saraf Omra, killing 22 people and injuring 17 others. Officials said the drone targeted an oil tanker, triggering a fire that spread through a large section of the market. A second strike occurred on a highway in North Kordofan, where a drone hit a truck carrying civilians. Six people were killed and 10 others were injured in that incident, a
AlbertaMar 26, 2026

Calgary Flames unveil ‘South Asian Celebration’ logo ahead of themed game

The Calgary Flames have released a new “South Asian Celebration” logo as the team prepares to host its third annual themed game on Saturday against the Vancouver Canucks. According to a team announcement, the logo is part of ongoing efforts to recognize and celebrate Calgary’s South Asian community during a dedicated game night at the Scotiabank Saddledome. The initiative includes cultural elements and in-game programming designed to highlight South Asian heritage. The Flames have held the annual celebration event since 2024, aligning with broader National Hockey League efforts to promot
trump-to-visit-china-may-14-15-white-house-says
WorldMar 26, 2026

Trump to visit China May 14–15, White House says

U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit China on May 14 and 15, according to a statement released Wednesday by the White House. The visit had originally been planned for later this month but was postponed due to rising tensions involving Iran and what officials described as a potential conflict situation. The White House did not provide further details on the security considerations behind the delay. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the trip is among the most anticipated international visits of Trump’s current term. She said the president will travel with First Lad

Related News