In a significant diplomatic development, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is set to lead a delegation to Pakistan for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. This important event will take place on October 15 and 16 in Islamabad, marking the first high-level engagement between India and Pakistan in nearly a decade. This shift in diplomacy signals potential progress in their relationship.
At a press conference on Friday, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed Jaishankar’s upcoming visit. He stated, “EAM Jaishankar will lead a delegation to Pakistan for the SCO summit in Islamabad on October 15th and 16th”. Additionally, Pakistan extended an invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, emphasizing the summit’s significance. Notably, Jaishankar‘s visit will be the first by an Indian External Affairs Minister to Pakistan since 2015. The last such visit occurred when former minister Sushma Swaraj attended a security conference on Afghanistan that year.
The SCO serves as a multilateral organization that includes key players like Russia and China. Furthermore, with Pakistan hosting this year’s summit, the participation of these influential countries enhances the discussions’ importance. This summit will provide a platform for addressing various regional issues collaboratively.
Jaishankar’s trip comes shortly after his strong remarks at the United Nations General Assembly, where he criticized Pakistan for its cross-border terrorism policies. He stated, “Many countries are left behind due to circumstances beyond their control. However, some make conscious choices with disastrous consequences. A prime example is our neighbor, Pakistan”.
Jaishankar further clarified India’s position during his UNGA address. He said, “We heard some bizarre assertions from it at this very forum yesterday. Let me make India‘s position perfectly clear: Pakistan‘s policy of cross-border terrorism will never succeed”. He emphasized that Pakistan can expect no impunity and that actions will certainly have consequences. This message directly responded to Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif‘s address at the UNGA the previous day.
As Jaishankar prepares for this landmark visit, the world will closely watch the proceedings. Many are eager to see how these talks will unfold. This summit represents not only an opportunity for dialogue but also a chance to tackle pressing regional issues. Ultimately, improved relations between the two neighboring nations could benefit the broader region, making this visit particularly significant.
Kolkata: On Friday, January 10, 2026, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha members demonstrated against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her actions after the ED raids at the I-PAC office and its chief Pratik Jain's home. | In relation to an alleged coal smuggling case that stretches back a few years, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) searched the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) office and Pratik Jain's home on Loudon Street in Kolkata on Thursday, January 8, 2025. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched a protest against the ED raids on I-PAC after the raid set off a political storm in the state. Why is a chief minister endorsing Pratik Jain, and who is he? Pratik Jain, a political strategist and co-founder of I-PAC, is a graduate of IIT Bombay. He is credited with helping I-PAC grow into one of the most significant political consulting organizations in India. I-PAC was established in 2015 and offers services like data-driven campaign management, support for governance, and voter outreach initiatives. It has collaborated with a number of Indian political groups throughout the years, notably West Bengal's Trinamool Congress (TMC). I-PAC reportedly collaborates closely with Abhishek Banerjee, the national general secretary of the Trinamool Congress, and his office. The company oversees the IT and media division of the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC and is in charge of creating its election campaigns. Mr. Jain was in charge of the Trinamool Congress's IT cell, according to Ms. Banerjee. According to his LinkedIn page, Jain, an engineering graduate from IIT Bombay, started his career as an analyst at the consulting firm Deloitte. He was one of the first members of Citizens of Accountable Governance, which later evolved into I-PAC. Arvind Kejriwal, M.K. Stalin, Jaganmohan Reddy, Uddhav Thackeray, Rahul Gandhi, and Nitish Kumar are just a few of the prominent figures with whom the political consultancy firm has collaborated.…
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