Senator Irfan Siddiqui of Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) was optimistic about the further developments regarding Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar’s participation in the forthcoming SCO summit in Islamabad. He considers this event a milestone in advancing relations between both countries, as they actively neighbour each other despite their historically troubled diplomatic relations and exchanges.
The Participants of the SCO Summit
In his statement, as if understanding how different the leadership of the attending countries is, Senator Siddiqui said that Jaishankar’s attendance at SCO is devoid of such relevance for the organization alone but helps to advance the diplomatic process between Pakistan and India. The SCO summit is a crucial gathering to bring together the heads of state and governments from various countries to address regional security, economic development, and political stability matters. It is a meeting point where both India and Pakistan, as members, can know how sorry states can work together towards normalizing their relations by interacting with other nations’ doors.
Pakistan will host the summit on October 16 and 17 this year. This is essential since several eminent persons, including Chinese Premier Li Qiang, are said to be in the audience.
PTI’s controversial stance
Sidhique had something different to say when Jaishankar was on a visit. He took a vital issue, particularly with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, who are picky about leaders of SCO. He observed that amongst all the summit leaders who turned up for the meeting, PTI invited only the Indian foreign minister to respond to their protest, which raised the scope of their flattery.
Sidhique, without hiding his disdain, stated that PTI should also include Jaishanker during one of the over 200 defence sites that were destroyed a few days ago and those of such saints and swords we knelt before. In saying this, he indicated that the relations between PTI and Inial, two national security temporary ly ill Turner pus exude this controversial of PTI restored regard for national security.
Of course, the reasoning behind his remarks is an exemplification of the political situation in Pakistan, where members of the opposition don’t miss a chance to take advantage of such high occasions and condemn their opponents at close quarters. In this regard, exceptionally when both countries have always maintained sour relations, Siddique’s criticism is an obvious criticism of PTI’s approach towards foreign affairs, particularly India.
A Window for Diplomatic Improvement
In the face of such internal political criticism, Siddiqui remains optimistic that Jaishankar’s attendance at the SCO summit will allow headway on the longstanding standoff between the two countries. He explained that the Indian foreign minister’s announcement during this time indicated at least two neighbouring countries’ desire to consider peaceful options, however, narrow their regional context.
As the relations between the two nuclear-sheld countries are still at a zero level, the SCO summit offers a platform for genuine participation, even in a multilateral format. Any informal channels or ‘strategies’ employed through reasoning or conflict resolution efforts could assist in some stages of the geographically turbulent region resolution.
The world would keep track of developments during the summit and spill over further hoped-for developments for the overall well-being of the other regions.
