[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text dp_text_size=”size-4″]ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Director General Anti-Narcotics Force will attend a meeting of all Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states’ anti-narcotics agencies this week in New Delhi.
The Pakistani delegation will be led by Major-General Aneequr Rehman Malik at the meeting on April 13 in New Delhi. The meeting will be presided over by India’s DG Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).
According to sources, the Indian High Commission in Islamabad granted visas to the five-member delegation, which included the Director General of the Anti-Narcotics Force. India is the current president of the SCO and is hosting a number of meetings.
Also Read: India invites Defence Minister Khawaja Asif to attend SCO meeting
Pakistan attended all SCO meetings except one expert-level meeting, where India withdrew the invitation at the last minute, citing a “incorrect map” used by the Pakistani delegation.
Otherwise, Pakistan attended all meetings, though the majority were via video link. This week’s meeting of anti-narcotics agency heads in New Delhi marks a rare occasion in which Pakistan will be present in person.
India has already extended invitations to Pakistan’s defence and foreign ministers to attend SCO meetings. The defence ministers will meet in New Delhi later this month, while the council of foreign ministers will meet in Goa in May.
Pakistan has not yet decided whether to attend the meetings in person or via video link. It is also unclear what level of participation exists.
Also Read: India invites Foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto on SCO summit.
However, according to sources, Pakistan will not be completely absent from the SCO meetings. “The SCO is very important to us.” This is a crucial regional gathering. As a result, there is no chance of Pakistan not attending the meetings,” a foreign office source said. The only question that remains is whether Pakistan will attend the meetings of the defence and foreign ministers in person or via video link.
However, the presence of a two-star general from Pakistan at the anti-narcotics meetings in New Delhi suggests that the government is testing the waters ahead of crucial ministerial meetings.
There will be a SCO summit this year as well, but Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s participation is contingent on the internal political situation and whether or not the defence and foreign ministers attend the meetings.
Pakistan, India, China, Russia, and key Central Asian states are members of the SCO. Given the presence of heavyweights such as Russia and China, it is emerging as a major regional forum.
The Saudi government recently approved the move to become a SCO dialogue partner, which will eventually lead to full membership.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
