India's Jaishankar to attend SCO Summit in Pakistan on Oct 15

Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar will lead his country's delegation to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Pakistan.

The visit marks the first time an Indian dignitary will set foot in Pakistan in nine years, signalling a potential thaw in tensions between the two nations.

Spokesperson for the Indian Foreign Office Randhir Jaiswal said Jaishankar's attendance at the SCO summit is a crucial step in his country's engagement with the regional organisation.

“The external affairs minister will lead a delegation to Pakistan to participate in the SCO Summit which will be held on October 15 and 16,” Randhir Jaiswal said at a weekly press briefing.

The SCO summit will be hosted by Islamabad on October 15 and 16.

The meeting will bring together leaders from member states to discuss key regional and global issues.

Notably, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also invited to the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting, which will take place concurrently with the summit.

Jaishankar's visit is seen as a significant gesture, given the strained relations between India and Pakistan in recent years. 

The last time an Indian foreign minister visited Pakistan was in 2015 when Sushma Swaraj attended the Heart of Asia conference in Islamabad.

The SCO summit will provide a platform for Pakistan and India to engage in constructive dialogue, potentially paving the way for improved bilateral relations.