Indian FM's Visit to Pakistan Seen as Diplomatic Ice-Breaker

India's Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar's visit to Pakistan for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit marked a significant diplomatic moment, being the first trip by a senior Indian diplomat to Pakistan in almost a decade. Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar referred to the visit as an "ice breaker," hinting that despite the tense political history between the two countries, this visit could open avenues for improved dialogue.

Relations between India and Pakistan have been strained for decades, as the two nuclear-armed nations have engaged in multiple wars and conflicts since their partition in 1947. The tensions deepened in 2019 when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi revoked the limited autonomy of Indian-administered Kashmir, a move that was celebrated within India but was met with strong opposition in Pakistan. In response, Pakistan downgraded its diplomatic relations with India and suspended bilateral trade. The region of Kashmir, claimed in full by both countries, has long been a flashpoint of conflict, with each nation accusing the other of fostering militancy in the area.

Despite this backdrop, Jaishankar's participation in the SCO summit, held in Islamabad, sent positive signals. Though neither India nor Pakistan requested a formal bilateral meeting during the summit, their public interaction— including a handshake between Jaishankar and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif—was seen as an important gesture. "When all the leaders were being welcomed and there were handshakes, I think positive images were sent out globally," said Minister Tarar.

The SCO summit brought together heads of states from member countries including China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. During the meeting, Jaishankar emphasized the importance of "mutual trust, friendship, and good neighborliness," pointing out that issues like terrorism, extremism, and separatism undermine regional cooperation. He warned that cross-border militancy stifles efforts toward enhancing trade, energy flows, and people-to-people exchanges in the region.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Sharif, in his opening remarks at the summit, called for collective security and cooperative development within the SCO bloc. He stressed the need for international efforts to prevent militant groups from gaining ground in Afghanistan, noting the importance of ensuring that Afghanistan’s territory is not used for terrorism against neighboring countries. Sharif highlighted the strategic significance of Afghanistan, located at the crossroads of SCO member states, as an opportunity for regional trade and transit.

Afghanistan, though holding observer status at the SCO, has been excluded from international conferences since the Taliban took over Kabul in 2021. Sharif urged the international community to pressure the Taliban government to ensure that Afghan soil is not used for militancy against its neighbors, including Pakistan.

In summary, while Jaishankar's visit to Pakistan was primarily for multilateral discussions within the SCO framework, the trip was seen as a potential thaw in India-Pakistan relations, sending a positive message to the international community amidst decades of hostility. Both sides avoided a bilateral meeting but signaled openness to future dialogue. The summit discussions emphasized mutual security, regional stability, and economic cooperation, with a particular focus on Afghanistan’s role in fostering regional trade and security.