Indian FM Jaishankar rules out bilateral talks during SCO Summit in Pakistan
India's foreign minister S. Jaishankar has ruled out discussing bilateral relations with rival Pakistan as he is scheduled to embark on his first trip to the neighbouring country in nearly a decade to attend the 2024 Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.
Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Jaishankar acknowledged the expected "media interest" in the possibility of engaging with his Pakistani counterpart on the strained relations between the two countries, which have been in a deep freeze since a deadly 2019 attack in Indian-administered Kashmir.
However, he emphasized that the visit is strictly for attending the multilateral SCO event and not for bilateral talks. "I am not going there to discuss India-Pakistan relations," he clarified.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs confirmed Jaishankar’s attendance at the summit, scheduled from October 15 to 16, but did not mention any plans for meetings with Pakistani leaders on the sidelines.
Earlier this year, Jaishankar reiterated India’s stance on addressing cross-border terrorism, stating that resolving the issue is essential for good neighborly relations. India has long accused Pakistan of supporting armed groups in Kashmir, a claim Pakistan denies.
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