Jaishankar lands in Pakistan, Sharif shake hands at SCO dinner

PTC News Desk: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar arrived in Pakistan on tuesday attend 23rd Shanghai Cooperation Summit following which later in the day, External Affairs Minister and Pakistans Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif exchanged pleasantries. Both the leaders shook hands and exchanged greetings before a dinner hosted by Shehbaz Sharif ahead of the Summit. Notably, greeted all the leaders of the delegations of the SCO member nations.

Dr. S.Jaishankar's aircraft landed at the Nur Khan airbase on the outskirts of the Islamabad and was received by senior Pakistani officials. it is the first time in nine years that India's foreign minister has travelled to neighboring country Pakistan. 

A red carpet was rolled out to welcome the guests, underscoring the importance of the event and the cordial relations between the two nations, as per the statement. The two-day meeting of SCO CHG, the second highest forum within the SCO, will be chaired by Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as the current chair of the Council, the statement further said.

As per the statement, Pakistan had assumed the rotating chair of the SCO CHG for 2023-24 at the previous meeting held in Bishkek on October 26, 2023, where the country was represented by then interim Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani.

In a post on X, Jaishankar said, "Landed in Islamabad to take part in SCO Council of Heads of Government Meeting." The 23rd SCO CHG is all set to kick off on Wednesday in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, with top-notch security measures in place.

The Ministry of External Affairs said that the meeting will focus on the trade and economic agenda of the organisation. Jaishankar will lead the Indian delegation at the 23rd Meeting of the SCO.