Why Is India Sending EAM Jaishankar To Pakistan Amid Tension With Neighbouring Nation?

Back In 2015, the then Indian foreign minister Sushma Swaraj had visited Pakistan to attend an international conference. Since then, India has not sent any of its ministers or officials to Pakistan. Now, reports are abuzz that External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar will lead India’s delegation at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to be held in Pakistan on October 15-16. The visit will be a landmark event as for the first time in nearly a decade, an Indian foreign minister will be visiting Pakistan.  
Though, Pakistan initially invited PM Narendra Modi to the summit, but his visit was unlikely from the very beginning.

For the first time in nearly a decade, an Indian foreign minister will be visiting Pakistan. Remember, the last Indian External Affairs Minister to visit was Sushma Swaraj in 2015. So, why has India decided to send Dr. Jaishankar to Islamabad for the conference? Jaishankar’s visit comes at a time when relations are strained between India and Pakistan. In the recent United Nations general assembly, S. Jaishankar attacked Pakistan quoting the neighboring country’s sufferings as ‘karma’ 

As per the Ministry, the trip is “mainly” for the SCO meeting and India will be focusing on regional cooperation mechanisms. Even, Jaishankar said that he is not going there to discuss indo pak ties and it will be for a multilateral event. 

So far, New Delhi has not sent any ministers to SCO gatherings in Pakistan, including Trade Ministers’ meeting last month. Officials even said that Jaishankar’s Visit is based on “reciprocity”, as Pakistan’s then Foreign Minister had also travelled to Goa to attend the SCO meeting last year. India sending minister Jaishankar to Pakistan despite tensions shows the importance it attaches to the SCO grouping. Especially given the fact that New Delhi withdrew from the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation summit in 2016 as it was held in Pakistan. Even during the 2024 SCO Summit, questions emerged regarding India's commitment to the organization after PM Modi opted to skip the 24th summit in Kazakhstan.

But... India’s last high commissioner to Pakistan, Ajay Bisaria termed the decision to send external affairs minister as a “bold move”. He added that India has signalled its desire to stabilise the troubled relationship. The ball is now in Pakistan’s court and it must seize the opportunity and propose a meaningful bilateral meeting. 

According to media channels, For India, the SCO is a key forum to address regional security issues and uphold its strategic autonomy as India is the only country in the grouping to not endorse China’s Belt and Road Initiative. As India has not had close ties with Central Asian countries, participation in the upcoming SCO summit paves a great opportunity to enhance cooperation with these resource-rich nations. Despite these conflicts between India and Pakistan, New Delhi sending external affairs minister to Pakistan is indeed a bold move.