External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar clarified on Saturday that there will be no bilateral talks with Pakistan during his upcoming visit to the country for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit. He emphasized that the visit is strictly for a multilateral event.
Jaishankar stated that while his visit will attract media attention due to strained India-Pakistan relations, it is only for attending the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting on October 15 and 16. He stressed that the visit is driven by the need to fulfill India’s responsibilities as a member of the SCO.
Visit Focused on SCO, Not Bilateral Issues
“I’m not going there to discuss India-Pakistan relations. I’m going there to be a good member of the SCO,” Jaishankar said at an event in Delhi. He underlined that his presence in Pakistan is not for dialogue but to participate in the summit, following SCO traditions.
Jaishankar also spoke about Pakistan’s continued support for terrorism. He reiterated that such behavior cannot be ignored, stating that it was the reason for the suspension of SAARC meetings.
Regional Integration Continues Without Pakistan
He emphasized that regional integration in the Indian subcontinent has made significant progress with countries like Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka. He pointed to the restoration of railways, rebuilding of roads, and new electricity grids.
In his speech, Jaishankar also called for reforms in the United Nations, citing its outdated structure and the need for change to reflect the current global order.
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