New Delhi: Amidst the ongoing tension between India and Pakistan, the diplomatic stir has intensified regarding the Civilisation Dialogue Forum of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to be held in New Delhi. India has invited Pakistan’s Minister of National Heritage and Culture Aurangzeb Khan Khichi to attend the event. This is said to be the first invitation given by India to a senior Pakistani minister after the Pahalgam terrorist attack and Operation Sindoor in May 2025. However, Pakistan has not yet clarified which representative it will send to the programme.
What is the purpose?
This platform was envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the SCO summit held in Tianjin, China in September 2025. Its objective is to bring the ancient civilisations, cultural traditions and historical relationships of the member countries on a common platform. India wants to strengthen people-to-people contacts and cultural understanding among the countries of the Eurasian region through this event. This initiative is part of efforts to enhance cooperation within the scope of SCO.
Is inviting Pakistan a sign of softening of relations?
It would be premature to consider the invitation sent by India as a sign of resumption of bilateral talks between the two countries. India’s stance has been that terrorism and talks cannot go together. Despite the strain in relations between the two countries after the Pahalgam attack, India continues its participation in multilateral organisations like SCO. Participation in such forums is part of a commitment to the organisation and not in itself evidence of change in bilateral relations.
Can a Pakistani minister come to India for the first time after May 2023?
The then Foreign Minister of Pakistan Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had come to Goa to participate in the SCO Foreign Ministers meeting in May 2023. Since then, high-level political contacts between the two countries have been limited. In October 2024, India’s Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar had gone to Islamabad to attend the meeting of SCO heads of government. However, participation in any multilateral meeting did not mean that formal bilateral talks also took place between the two countries.
What further discussions can take place on the platform of SCO?
In September 2026, the Indian delegation led by India’s SCO National Coordinator Alok Dimri participated in the organisation’s meeting in Islamabad. Issues like connectivity, regional connectivity, transit and trade were discussed there. The visit was significant as the first participation of an Indian delegation in Pakistan after Operation Sindoor. Pakistan is holding the chairmanship of the organisation for 2026-27 and will host the SCO leaders’ summit in August 2027.
Will the Delhi event create new scope for both countries?
At present the most important question is whether Pakistan accepts the invitation or not and if it does, then at what level will it be represented? The Civilisation Dialogue Forum can definitely provide an opportunity to discuss cultural issues, but any major change in India-Pakistan relations will be judged only by the next steps of both the countries. At present, India’s initiative is being seen as an attempt to continue cooperation in the multilateral framework of SCO.
