Pakistan has invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit
Pakistan has formally invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit scheduled for mid-October in Islamabad, marking the first invitation to an Indian leader in eight years.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif extended the invitation for the meeting of regional leaders on October 15-16, 2024. Despite the current strained relations between the two countries, the presence of other powerful nations at the SCO meeting may compel Modi to participate, either in person or virtually.
The SCO, a Eurasian political, economic, and security alliance founded in 2001, includes India, Pakistan, and Iran as full members, with Afghanistan, Belarus, and Mongolia as observers. It plays a crucial role in regional cooperation, addressing security concerns, and fostering economic ties through initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Last year, Pakistan attended all SCO meetings hosted by India, either in person or virtually, but India’s decision to hold the previous summit virtually was influenced by tensions with China and Pakistan.
