AMONGST the host of foreign dignitaries expected to fly into Islamabad for the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting due to begin on Oct 15, the participation of Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has attracted particular attention. The Indian government has confirmed their top diplomat will attend the SCO moot. Earlier, there was considerable speculation over whether the Indians would attend. The debate related to the visit is understandable and occurs whenever there are high-level exchanges between Pakistani and Indian officials, though it should be mentioned that this is not a bilateral visit. Yet such meetings present opportunities to engage with one another in a civil atmosphere. It would be the first time such a senior Indian official has visited Pakistan since the then home minister Rajnath Singh attended a Saarc meeting in 2016.

Many observers have said that hopes should not be too high, as bilateral relations are the lowest they have ever been during peacetime. Mr Jaishankar, too, stressed that bilateral talks are not on the table. When the then foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari was in Goa last year for an SCO meeting, the Indian reception was not hospitable. Moreover, Mr Jaishankar’s remarks regarding Pakistan at last month’s UN General Assembly were anything but charitable. It is also true that India may have swallowed the bitter pill of sending a senior envoy to Pakistan to avoid accusations that it is sabotaging the China-led SCO. Yet while acknowledging the deep gulf of mistrust that exists between Pakistan and India, there can always be constructive outcomes from the Indian minister’s visit. If both sides stick to the SCO script and avoid bringing in bilateral matters to the multilateral meeting, it could set a positive precedent. But both capitals must also seize the moment and at least engage with each other on the side-lines, even if it concerns only ‘talks about talks’. The best way to bring peace to the subcontinent is through frank and direct dialogue. Let both sides discuss all outstanding issues, but through diplomatic channels. Moreover, they should avoid pugnacious sound bites that only vitiate the atmosphere. One immediate confidence-building measure to accompany the SCO visit can be the full restoration of diplomatic relations. While no one should expect any miracles from Mr Jaishankar’s visit, there is certainly no harm in using the opportunity to talk peace.

Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2024