Jaishankar SCO Pakistan visit: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has made it clear that his upcoming visit to Pakistan for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit will not include any bilateral discussions with Pakistan. Emphasizing Indias stance on cross-border terrorism, Jaishankar highlighted that meaningful relations with Pakistan are impossible without addressing this critical issue.Speaking at the Sardar Patel Lecture on Governance, Jaishankar underscored Indias desire for good relations with its neighbors but stressed that such relations must be rooted in realism. He pointed out the differing perspectives of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru regarding Indias ties with China, suggesting that Patels views on foreign policy were more pragmatic.Realism is key to relations with PakistanJaishankar reiterated Indias position on cross-border terrorism, stating, Like any neighbor, India would certainly like to have good relations with Pakistan, but that cannot happen by overlooking cross-border terrorism and indulging in wishful thinking. As the Sardar demonstrated, realism must be the foundation for policy. He further drew parallels with Indias relationship with China, noting that Patels instincts on the matter differed significantly from Nehrus, as evidenced by their correspondence in 1950.Clarification on upcoming Pakistan visitIn a press conference following the event, Jaishankar clarified that his visit to Pakistan for the SCO meeting, scheduled for October 15-16, will strictly be a multilateral engagement. He explicitly ruled out any bilateral talks with Pakistan, stating, Im not going there to discuss India-Pakistan relations. Im going there to be a good member of the SCO. But, you know, since Im a courteous and civil person, I will behave myself accordingly.SCO and Indias roleThe Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), established in June 2001, is one of the largest regional alliances in the world, comprising countries such as Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India, and China. Known as the Alliance of the East, the SCO covers a significant portion of the Eurasian continent, representing nearly half of the global population and 20 percent of the worlds GDP.Jaishankars participation in the SCO summit is seen as part of Indias broader diplomatic strategy in the region. However, his firm stance on cross-border terrorism highlights Indias continued concerns with Pakistan and the challenges in fostering stronger bilateral ties.
