India-Pakistan

Pakistan Invites Modi To Islamabad SCO Meeting; Will India’s PM Attend?

By
OB Bureau

New Delhi: Pakistan has extended an invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Government meeting which will be held in Islamabad in October.

“Invitations have been sent to the heads of countries to participate in the meeting which will take place on October 15-16. An invitation has also been sent to the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi,” Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch informed at a press briefing on Thursday.

Pakistan currently holds the rotating chairmanship of SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG).

It may be recalled that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had attended last year’s meeting, hosted by India, through a video link, while then-Foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari visited India in May 2023 to attend the two-day meeting of the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers in Goa.

India has not yet responded to Pakistan’s invitation to Modi.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has denied reports claiming that India has already rejected the invitation to Islamabad.

“We have noticed several outlets are running news that the PM won’t attend a SCO meeting in Pakistan or EAM will attend a SCO meeting in Pakistan. MEA hasn’t commented on this matter and would request speculative news in this regard be avoided,” The Indian Express quoted an MEA official as saying.

Given the tensions between India and Pakistan over the last few years, primarily over cross-border terrorism and Kashmir issue, it is unlikely that PM Modi will ultimately make the trip to Islamabad.

According to political analysts, India could be represented by a ministerial delegation, as has been the case in some earlier SCO CHG meetings.

OB Bureau

Recent Posts

Odisha Pulmonologist Narayan Mishra Gets National Award

Berhampur: Renowned pulmonologist of Odisha Dr Narayan Mishra honoured with the prestigious ‘Indian Chest Society-Lifetime…

November 22, 2024

2 Missing After Indian Navy Submarine Collides With Fishing Vessel; Massive Search Operation Underway

Mumbai: Two crew members of a fishing vessel have been missing since it collided with…

November 22, 2024

[Watch] Jawans Dance & Celebrate After Eliminating 10 Maoists In Chhattisgarh

Raipur: In a major operation, security forces eliminated at least 10 Maoists in an encounter in…

November 22, 2024

SOA Hosts International Conference On Materials For Circular Economy & Technology In Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: Experts from across India and abroad exchanged knowledge and ideas on latest developments in…

November 22, 2024

Why Likes Of Odisha BJP MLA Prakash Sethi Are Here To Stay

Cuttack Sadar MLA Prakash Sethi's English speech at Bali Jatra inauguration has gone Viral......the caption…

November 22, 2024

BJP-BJD War Of Words In Odisha Over Honouring Harekrushna Mahtab & Other Visionary Leaders

Bhubaneswar: A day after 125th birth anniversary celebration of Harekrushna Mahtab was inaugurated, a war…

November 22, 2024

India 150, Australia 67/7: Bumrah (4/17) Leads Stunning Day 1 Comeback In 1st Test

Perth: A more sensational script couldn’t have been written for the opening day of the…

November 22, 2024

Odisha: ANM Suspended In Balangir ‘Child Gifting’ Incident

Balangir: Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) of Odisha's Balangir on Friday suspended Auxiliary Nursing Midwifery…

November 22, 2024