Jaishankar, Pak PM Shehbaz Sharif Shake Hands In Islamabad; Pak MoFA Spox Rules Out Indo-Pak Bilateral

India's External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar arrived in Islamabad on Tuesday to attend the the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Heads of Government Summit. On the first day, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hosted a dinner for the visiting dignitaries.

Islamabad: India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar arrived in Islamabad on Tuesday to attend the the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Heads of Government Summit. On the first day, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hosted a dinner for the visiting dignitaries.

Welcoming all the leaders, including the Indian dignitary, the Pakistani premier shook hands with Jaishankar and the two exchanged brief words. This is a departure from the recent past where the two sides have made a conscious effort to not be seen engaging each other even at multilateral meetings. Last year at the SCO foreign ministers’ meeting hosted by India in Goa, Dr. Jaishankar did not shake hands with the then foreign minister of Pakistan Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. He confined himself to a ‘Namaste’ (greetings with folded hands) in welcoming his guests.

The SCO comprises China, India, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Belarus — with 16 more countries affiliated as observers or “dialogue partners”.

After India and Pakistan became full members of the SCO at its 2017 summit in Kazakhstan, which was attended by then Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif and Indian Prime Minister Modi.

However, in an exclusive conversation with India Today Global, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch reiterated India’s position ruling out any bilateral meeting between Jaishankar and his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar. “He (Jaishankar) has already said it. There will be not bilateral on the sidelines of the SCO,” she said.

The Indian Minister for External Affairs last week had said he would not discuss bilateral relations when he visits Pakistan mid-month. “I expect there would be a lot of media interest because of the very nature of the relationshipâ€æBut I do want to say it will be for a multilateral event. I am not going there to discuss India-Pakistan relations,” Jaishankar said in response to a query at an event in New Delhi.

“I am going there to be a good member of the SCO but since I am a courteous and civil person, I will behave myself accordingly,” he added.

Earlier, EAM Jaishankar landed at Nur Air Base to a red carpet welcome. He was received by Ilyas Nizami, Director General South Asia and Adeel Khokhar (Director India. India’s Chargé d’Affaires Geetika Srivastava was also there to receive him.

Dr. Jaishankar was also received by a bunch of kids dressed in traditional attire who presented him with bouquets of flowers.