S Jaishankar to Attend SCO Summit 2024 in Islamabad
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar announced that he will visit Islamabad, Pakistan, not to discuss India-Pakistan relations, but to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit 2024. The summit is a multilateral event, and Jaishankar emphasized his role as a “good member of the SCO.”
Purpose of the Visit
Jaishankar clarified that his visit is solely for the SCO heads of government meeting, scheduled for October 15-16. He stated, “I am not going there to discuss India-Pakistan relations. I am going there to be a good member of the SCO.”
Background on the SCO
The SCO is an intergovernmental organization established in 2001, with member states including India, Pakistan, China, and Russia, among others. The summit in Islamabad marks Pakistan’s role as a recent member of the bloc.
India’s Participation
India received an invitation from Pakistan for the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting. In May 2023, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari visited India for an SCO meeting, marking the first such visit in six years.
Doubts Revealed
S Jaishankar -: S Jaishankar is the External Affairs Minister of India. He is responsible for managing India’s foreign relations and international affairs.
SCO Summit -: The SCO Summit is a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, where member countries discuss cooperation on various issues. It includes countries like India, Pakistan, China, and Russia.
Islamabad -: Islamabad is the capital city of Pakistan. It is where the SCO Summit 2024 will be held.
Multilateral cooperation -: Multilateral cooperation means working together with multiple countries to solve common problems or achieve shared goals. It is not focused on just two countries, like India and Pakistan, but involves many nations.
Member states -: Member states are countries that are part of an organization, like the SCO. They work together on issues of common interest.
Established in 2001 -: The SCO was created in 2001. It is an international organization that aims to promote cooperation among its member countries.