[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text dp_text_size=”size-4″]Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari arrived in Goa, India, on Thursday to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) meeting, which will take place from May 4 to 5.
Senior officials from the Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs greeted the foreign minister at the airport.
وزیر خارجہ بلاول بھٹو زرداری کی شنگھائی تعاون تنظیم کے اجلاس میں شرکت کیلئے گوا آمد
وزارت خارجہ کا اعلیٰ سطح کا وفد بھی وزیر خارجہ بلاول بھٹو زرداری کے ہمراہ
وزیر خارجہ بلاول بھٹو زرداری کا ہندوستانی وزارت خارجہ کے اعلیٰ حکام نے ائیرپورٹ پر استقبال کیا@BBhuttoZardari… pic.twitter.com/Vw9hU56mJt
— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) May 4, 2023
The Pakistan delegation is attending the meeting at the invitation of India’s Minister for External Affairs, Dr S Jaishankar, who is also the current chair of the SCO CFM, according to the Foreign Office (FO).
Also Read: FM Bilawal Bhutto consults allies on India visit
The FO added in a statement that Pakistan’s participation in the two-day meeting reflects Pakistan’s commitment to the SCO charter and processes, as well as the importance Islamabad places on the region in its foreign policy priorities.
Prior to his arrival in the neighbouring country, the FM tweeted that his “decision to attend this meeting demonstrates Pakistan’s strong commitment to the charter of the SCO.”
He also expressed his desire for “constructive discussions with [his] counterparts from friendly countries.”
On my way to Goa, India. Will be leading the Pakistan delegation at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization CFM. My decision to attend this meeting illustrates Pakistan’s strong commitment to the charter of SCO.
During my visit, which is focused exclusively on the SCO, I look… pic.twitter.com/cChUWj9okR
— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) May 4, 2023
Pakistan’s decision to attend the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in India, according to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, “reflects our commitment to the SCO Charter [and] multilateralism.”
Pakistan's decision to attend SCO Council of Foreign Minister's meeting in India reflects our commitment to the SCO Charter & multilateralism. We are committed to playing our part to advance our shared values of peace & stability in the region. We are all for win win…
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) May 4, 2023
A day earlier, Bilawal had held a consultation with the political leaders on his India visit.
Bilawal Bhutto had called Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) Convenor Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and took him into confidence regarding the visit. He also consulted other political leaders.
The relationship between Pakistan and India has remained at a standstill despite efforts by the two sides to mend ties.
FM Bilawal’s trip to India will be seen as an ice-breaking move, though it may not bring any dramatic changes in the bilateral relationship.
It is believed that Pakistan took the decision considering the importance of the SCO. There were strong voices in favour of the visit given that Pakistan must not leave such important regional forums and provide India a chance to further isolate the country.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
