According to reports on Thursday, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will travel abroad for the first time in over ten years to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting in Goa, India, next month.
Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch made the official announcement of the foreign minister’s attendance to the SCO foreign ministers meeting during a weekly press briefing.
The conference is slated to take place in Goa, an Indian vacation destination, on May 4 and 5.
Pakistan’s foreign minister was among those from the SCO that India had invited to the summit in January. China, Russia, India, Pakistan, and a few central Asian nations make up the SCO. A few years ago, Pakistan and India were accepted as full members.
The member states’ defence ministers will also convene on April 27 in New Delhi prior to the SCO foreign ministers conference.
Khawaja Asif, the defence minister, has since been invited to the meeting. Asif would undoubtedly represent Pakistan after today’s news, although it is unclear whether he would do it virtually or in person.
Despite efforts by the two sides to improve relations, relations between Pakistan and India have remained at a standstill.
Bilawal Bhutto’s India Visit Seeing as an Icebreaker
Although it would not result in any significant changes to the bilateral relationship, FM Bilawal’s travel to India would be viewed as an icebreaker.
Pakistan is thought to have made this choice in light of the significance of the SCO. Strong arguments were made in favor of the trip, arguing that Pakistan shouldn’t skip such crucial regional gatherings and allow India a chance to further isolate the nation.
As the SCO’s current president, India is hosting a variety of events, including a summit meeting following the conference of the organization’s foreign ministers.
Shehbaz Sharif, the prime minister of Pakistan, is probably going to visit India as well for the summit if Bilawal’s visit goes as planned.
India Creates Hurdles for Pakistan
It was reported earlier this month that Pakistan may be considering attending the important ministerial meetings in India, but a preliminary internal evaluation indicates the Modi government may make it tough for the nation to send its delegates.
Despite the fact that India offered invites for both meetings. The Modi government’s attitude has led to a perception within the Foreign Office that India might not be interested in Pakistan attending those high-profile meetings.
The source asserted that it did not suit Prime Minister Modi to have Pakistan join the SCO meetings in India given the current situation.
The neighboring country’s general elections are scheduled for the following year, and Prime Minister Modi has always profited from his anti-Pakistan campaign.
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