India Sends Senior Official to Pakistan for SCO Meeting After Operation Sindoor

By Thetripurapost Desk, Islamabad
Sep 29, 2026
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India has sent a senior Ministry of External Affairs official to Pakistan for a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting, nearly one and a half years after Operation Sindoor and amid continuing differences between New Delhi and Islamabad.

Alok Dimri, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs and India’s SCO coordinator, is leading the Indian delegation at the meeting being held in Islamabad. The three-day meeting began on Monday and is scheduled to continue until Wednesday.

The discussions are centred on the functioning of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, Pakistan’s current presidency of the grouping, preparations for forthcoming SCO meetings and other organisational matters.

India’s Participation Limited to SCO Affairs

India has made it clear that its participation in the Islamabad meeting is strictly connected with the SCO framework.

New Delhi will continue to engage with Pakistan through the multilateral organisation, but there is no plan for a separate bilateral meeting between Indian and Pakistani representatives during the current engagement.

India has repeatedly maintained that dialogue with Pakistan requires an environment free from terrorism. This position became particularly significant following the Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025 and the subsequent military escalation between the two countries during Operation Sindoor.

The Indian government has maintained that terrorism and dialogue cannot proceed together.

Jaishankar Visited Pakistan for SCO Summit in 2024

India had previously sent External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to Pakistan for the SCO summit in October 2024.

Jaishankar became the first Indian foreign minister to visit Pakistan in nearly nine years. Before his visit, the last Indian external affairs minister to travel to Pakistan was Sushma Swaraj, who visited the country in December 2015.

Pakistan had invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the SCO summit in 2024. India instead deputed Jaishankar to represent the country at the meeting.

During the summit, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hosted a dinner for leaders and representatives of SCO member states. Sharif and Jaishankar met during the event and exchanged a handshake. However, no detailed information about their interaction was officially released.

What Is the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation?

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a regional international grouping established in 2001 by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

India and Pakistan became full members of the organisation in 2017, while Iran joined the SCO as a full member in 2023.

The organisation provides a platform for cooperation among its members on security, economic and political issues.

Counterterrorism, preventing extremism, combating drug trafficking and addressing cybercrime are among the areas covered through SCO cooperation.

For India and Pakistan, the SCO provides one of the few multilateral platforms where representatives of both countries continue to participate despite their bilateral differences.

Pakistan Holds SCO Presidency for 2026-27

Pakistan is currently holding the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation presidency for 2026-27.

The meeting of national coordinators in Islamabad is being held from Monday to Wednesday. Pakistan’s SCO Coordinator Dr. M. Faisal is chairing the discussions.

The meeting is examining the organisation’s programme of activities, preparations for upcoming meetings and measures aimed at expanding cooperation among member countries.

Pakistan has selected “Transforming Vision into Action: Connectivity, New Technologies and Shared Prosperity” as the theme for its SCO presidency.

The theme highlights three broad areas of focus: regional connectivity, technological development and economic cooperation among SCO members.

Operation Sindoor and India-Pakistan Military Escalation

India’s latest SCO engagement with Pakistan comes against the backdrop of the military confrontation that followed the Pahalgam terror attack of April 2025.

India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025, following the attack in Pahalgam. Indian authorities said the operation targeted nine terrorist-related sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

According to India, the strikes were directed at terrorist infrastructure and were intended to prevent further attacks.

The military confrontation subsequently intensified, with both India and Pakistan using drones, missiles and air strikes during the escalation.

On May 10, 2025, the two countries agreed to stop military action.

India-Pakistan Engagement Through SCO

India’s participation in the Islamabad meeting demonstrates that its engagement with Pakistan continues through established multilateral institutions such as the SCO, even as direct bilateral relations remain affected by security concerns.

For New Delhi, the SCO remains an important regional forum involving major powers and neighbouring countries. India’s presence at the current meeting is therefore focused on organisational and multilateral responsibilities rather than reopening a separate bilateral dialogue with Pakistan.

The upcoming SCO summit in Pakistan could also attract attention because Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to be invited. Any decision regarding India’s representation at the summit would be announced separately.

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