ISLAMABAD: Pakistani delegation comprising officers from three armed forces attend working group meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in New Delhi, Foreign Office confirmed, raising possibility of county’s defence minister travelling to India next month.

India, being current President of SCO is holding series of meetings this year. It has invited Pakistani defence and foreign ministers for SCO meetings scheduled in April and May respectively.

FO Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch told reporters that no final decision was made yet on invitations but she did confirm visit of delegation of Pakistan from Joint Staff Headquarters attended meeting of expert working group under Council of Ministers of Defence of SCO.

“Pakistan is an active member of SCO and will continue to engage with it. Regarding that unfortunate development last week, we have expressed our concerns with SCO and our point has been well registered with entire organisation,” she said while referring to Indian move to cancel Pakistani invitation for meeting of military experts on healthcare and endemic.

“Regarding future meetings, I cannot predict how things would develop, but I can share with you that yesterday delegation of Pakistan from Joint Staff Headquarters attended 16th meeting of expert working group under Council of Ministers of Defence of SCO member states. It was working-level delegation that attended in person,” she added.

Since SCO is a regional forum having China and Russia as its members too, one view within foreign office is that Pakistan must not leave such key forums allowing India an opportunity to score points.

Published in The Daily National Courier, March, 25 2023

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