SCO meet: As Pak invites PM, analysts see it as ‘protocol, not political stunt’

Islamabad

Pakistan has extended an invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Heads of Governments (CHG) meeting in Islamabad on October 15-16. Analysts view the invitation as a routine protocol rather than a political maneuver.

According to sources in Pakistan's Foreign Office, the invitation is a formal part of the hosting process, where the host country invites all member states to the meeting. Given the strained relations between India and Pakistan since India's abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, which altered the status of Jammu and Kashmir, it is unlikely that PM Modi will accept the invitation.

Instead, it is anticipated that India may send a ministerial delegation to represent the country at the SCO meeting, as past meetings have also been attended by Indian ministers rather than heads of state.

Political analyst Kamran Yousaf noted that inviting leaders to such meetings is standard protocol and not necessarily indicative of a political stunt. He expressed doubt about PM Modi visiting Islamabad, citing the Indian government's longstanding policy of avoiding normalization efforts with Pakistan.

Despite tensions, both nations have participated in SCO meetings, as the organization's charter focuses on regional matters and prevents discussions of bilateral issues. Last year, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari visited India for the SCO Foreign Ministers' meeting.