India’s Minister for External Affairs, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, arrived in Pakistan on Tuesday to attend the two-day meeting of the Council of the Heads of Government (CHG) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). This marks the first visit by an Indian official to Pakistan in nearly a decade, highlighting the significance of the summit.
Jaishankar was received by Pakistani officials upon his arrival, joining other high-profile delegates, including the premiers of Belarus and Kyrgyzstan, who also landed in Islamabad earlier in the day. Petroleum Minister Musadik Malik welcomed Kyrgyzstan’s Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Akylbek Japarov, at Nur Khan Airbase, while Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar greeted Belarusian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko at Islamabad International Airport.
The summit, hosted by Pakistan, is the highest-profile event in years and will see participation from leaders of member and observer states, including Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Tajikistan’s Prime Minister Kohir Rasulzoda, Turkmenistan’s Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Rashid Meredov, and Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref. Russian Premier Mikhail Mishustin is also expected to attend in person.
The SCO, a Eurasian security and political organization founded in 2001 by Russia and China, aims to enhance cooperation in fields such as economy and trade. Observers suggest the bloc seeks to counter Western influence in the region. The main meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hosting a welcome dinner for delegates on Tuesday evening. Bilateral meetings are also planned on the sidelines.
In preparation for the summit, Pakistan’s government has declared a three-day public holiday in Islamabad, closing schools and businesses. Security has been heightened, with large contingents of police and paramilitary forces deployed. The Pakistani army will oversee security in the capital’s Red Zone, which houses the parliament and diplomatic enclave, where most SCO meetings will occur.
The Ministry of Interior has instructed the district administration to implement extraordinary security measures and prevent protests during the summit. A letter from the Ministry to the Chief Commissioner of Islamabad emphasized the need to maintain law and order and ensure no unlawful protests disrupt the event, following an order from the Islamabad High Court. The administration is tasked with disseminating this information to the public to ensure a smooth and secure summit.
