External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, currently in Islamabad for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, started his Wednesday morning with a peaceful walk alongside Indian diplomats at the Indian High Commission. This marks a significant moment, as S Jaishankar’s visit to Pakistan makes him the first Indian External Affairs Minister to visit the neighbouring country in nine years.
The minister shared a photo on Twitter, showing himself in a casual bottle-green t-shirt and track pants, walking with his diplomatic colleagues within the High Commission premises. “A morning walk together with colleagues of Team @IndiainPakistan in our High Commission campus,” S Jaishankar tweeted, offering a glimpse into his calm start to what is expected to be a significant diplomatic day.
In addition to his morning walk, S Jaishankar participated in a symbolic gesture of environmental commitment by planting an Arjuna sapling at the Indian High Commission. Posting about the event, he wrote, “An Arjuna sapling at @IndiainPakistan premises is another commitment to #Plant4Mother,” highlighting India’s focus on sustainability and ecological consciousness.
S Jaishankar is leading India’s delegation to the SCO Summit, which is being held at the Jinnah Convention Centre in Islamabad. On the previous evening, S Jaishankar attended an informal dinner hosted by Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, where both leaders exchanged greetings and shook hands, although no formal talks were held.
Despite S Jaishankar’s presence in Islamabad, no bilateral talks are scheduled with Pakistan’s leadership, including his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar. Relations between India and Pakistan remain strained, primarily due to ongoing concerns over cross-border terrorism originating from Pakistan. India has made it clear that dialogue with Pakistan can only take place in an atmosphere free from terrorism.
S Jaishankar’s visit to Pakistan is a rare occurrence in recent times, with the last visit being made by then-External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in 2015. His current visit is seen as significant in the context of the SCO Summit, where he will join leaders and representatives from other member states, including Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, and leaders from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus, and Iran.
The SCO Summit, an important platform for regional cooperation, will see discussions on various multilateral issues, but India’s bilateral engagement with Pakistan remains limited due to the unresolved tensions over terrorism.
