Pakistan has formally extended an invitation to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the upcoming SCO Summit 2024, set to take place in Islamabad in mid-October. Official sources confirmed on Sunday that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has invited Narendra Modi along with other leaders from the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) for the crucial gathering on October 15 and 16, 2024. This marks the first time in eight years that Pakistan has invited the Indian leader to such an event.
The last time Narendra Modi was invited to Pakistan was for the 2016 South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit, which was eventually canceled due to India’s boycott. With the SCO Summit 2024 approaching, diplomatic circles are abuzz with speculation over whether Narendra Modi will attend in person or join virtually, given the current strained bilateral relations between India and Pakistan. Despite these tensions, the presence of other major powers in the SCO Summit 2024 makes it difficult for India to skip the event entirely.
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Historically, regional forums like the SCO have provided a platform for India and Pakistan to potentially reset their ties. However, the ongoing divergences in their positions suggest that such a development is unlikely during the SCO Summit 2024.
The SCO, founded in 2001 by China, Russia, and four Central Asian states, has since expanded to include India, Pakistan, and Iran as full members, with other countries participating as observers or dialogue partners. The organization is often viewed as a counterbalance to Western alliances like NATO and plays a vital role in regional cooperation, addressing security concerns such as terrorism, extremism, and separatism, and promoting economic initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Pakistan has been an active participant in the SCO, attending all meetings, including those hosted by India last year 2023. The former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari visited Goa in May 2023 for a meeting of SCO foreign ministers. India had invited Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to the SCO summit held in New Delhi, but later opted to host it virtually, likely due to its tensions with China and Pakistan.
As Pakistan prepares to host the high-profile SCO Summit 2024, the event is expected to play a pivotal role in shaping regional dynamics, with key discussions on security, economic cooperation, and global geopolitical challenges.
