S Jaishankar to Attend SCO Summit in Pakistan
The Ministry of External Affairs has announced that External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will travel to Pakistan for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. The summit is scheduled for October 15-16 in Islamabad. MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed India’s participation, stating that Jaishankar will lead the delegation.
In August, India received an invitation from Pakistan for the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting. Jaiswal confirmed the invitation during a media briefing on August 30, mentioning that further updates would be provided later.
Earlier in May 2023, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari visited India for an SCO meeting in Goa, marking the first visit by a Pakistani Foreign Minister to India in six years.
About the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation
The SCO is a permanent intergovernmental international organization established on June 15, 2001, in Shanghai. It was founded by Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. The organization now includes nine member states: India, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. The SCO also has three observer states: Afghanistan, Mongolia, and Belarus, and 14 dialogue partners, including countries like Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Saudi Arabia.
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, a group of countries that work together on political, economic, and security issues. It includes countries like China, Russia, and India.
Pakistan -: Pakistan is a neighboring country of India. It is located to the northwest of India and shares a long border with it.
MEA -: MEA stands for the Ministry of External Affairs, which is a part of the Indian government. It handles India’s foreign relations and international diplomacy.
Randhir Jaiswal -: Randhir Jaiswal is a spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs in India. A spokesperson is someone who speaks on behalf of an organization or government.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari -: Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is the Foreign Minister of Pakistan. He is responsible for managing Pakistan’s foreign relations and international affairs.
Goa -: Goa is a state in western India known for its beautiful beaches and Portuguese heritage. It is a popular tourist destination.
Observer states -: Observer states are countries that are not full members of an organization but are allowed to participate in its meetings and activities to some extent.
Dialogue partners -: Dialogue partners are countries or organizations that engage in discussions and cooperation with a larger group, like the SCO, but are not full members.