Although Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s recent visit to Pakistan did not lead to a breakthrough or a noticeable improvement in bilateral relations, it has sparked a glimmer of hope.
During his visit, Jaishankar not only spoke at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit hosted by Islamabad but also had meetings with Ishaq Dar, Pakistan’s foreign minister and deputy prime minister, during the summit over meals.
Unlike the SCO meeting in Goa in May 2023, there were no hostile exchanges between the two sides, and no discussions about Kashmir or India’s actions in Jammu and Kashmir.
However, there were no significant breakthroughs in Islamabad either.
Jaishankar’s trip generated media speculation about the possibility of a thaw in India-Pakistan relations, given that it was the first visit by an Indian foreign minister to Pakistan since 2015 and the first by any Indian minister since 2016.
Prior to his visit, Jaishankar clarified that he was not going to Pakistan to discuss bilateral ties but to participate in the SCO activities, emphasizing that normalizing relations with Pakistan was not a top priority for India at the moment.
India and Pakistan have had strained relations, particularly since the terrorist attack in Pulwama in February 2019, which led to escalating tensions and military conflicts between the two countries. The revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status by India in August 2019 further worsened the situation.
The absence of formal dialogue has been evident in the lack of ambassadors in each other’s capitals since 2019, though both countries maintain functioning embassies headed by deputy ambassadors.
Jaishankar’s unexpected visit to Pakistan can be interpreted in several ways, including as a gesture of India’s commitment to regional organizations like the SCO and its desire to strengthen ties with Central Asian countries.
Furthermore, the visit could be seen as India’s effort to maintain its relationship with Russia, a key ally, especially amid strained relations between Russia and Western countries.
India’s participation in the SCO reflects its support for a multipolar world order and its willingness to engage with various partners in a changing global landscape.
Another significant aspect of Jaishankar’s visit was to emphasize the importance of combating terrorism and extremism, a key goal of the SCO.
Looking ahead, bridging the trust deficit between India and Pakistan will require sustained efforts and a willingness from both sides to engage constructively.
While the Jaishankar visit did not result in any immediate breakthroughs, it symbolizes a potential opening for dialogue and cooperation between the two countries in the future.