ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has sent an invitation to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) heads of the government summit being held in Islamabad on 15- 16th October 2024.
Pakistan being the host country has also dispatched invitations to other members of SCO for participation in the summit.
Currently, nine countries enjoy the status of the SCO full members which include Pakistan India, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
With the joining of Belarus in July 2024 the total members rose to ten. The invitation has been sent to the Indian PM by Pakistan through diplomatic channels. However, the Indian government has not responded to Pakistan’s invitation about participation of the Indian PM.
Observer countries are also being invited to the summit which includes Afghanistan and Mongolia as observers.
Fourteen dialogue partners of SCO would also be invited. Sources said the Indian government would take the decision after consulting coalition partners. Late Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj visited Pakistan in 2015 to attend the SCO Ministerial meeting.
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi visited Pakistan in December 2015 on a private visit hosted by the then prime minister Nawaz Sharif. Pakistani Foreign Ministry is making arrangements to host this extraordinary big event in Islamabad after many years at the leadership level.
The main event including the opening of SCO would take place at Jinnah Convention Center while several other meetings would take place in the Pakistan-China Friendship Centre.
Elaborate security arrangements are also being made for foolproof security of this important diplomatic event.
