Dr Farooq welcomes EAM Jaishankar’s visit to Islamabad for SCO meeting

Srinagar, Oct 05: National Conference (NC) president Dr Farooq Abdullah on Saturday expressed optimism regarding External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s upcoming visit to Islamabad for the SCO meeting, hoping that this visit could pave the way for improved relations between India and Pakistan.
Dr. Farooq welcomed this development, stating, “I am hopeful that they will engage in constructive dialogue on various issues. Economic concerns are crucial not just for us, but for the entire world. I am confident that they will also address bilateral matters. I anticipate a friendly exchange that will foster a deeper understanding between the two nations. My best wishes go out to all involved.”
In expressing his hopes for the meeting, Dr. Farooq emphasized the importance of initiating a positive shift in relations between the two countries. He stated, “I remain hopeful. The outcome of the meeting is uncertain, but I pray that any existing animosities will dissipate, leading to a more harmonious relationship between India and Pakistan.”
Currently, the SCO countries include nine Member States — India, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. The SCO has three Observer States – Afghanistan, Mongolia and Belarus.
At the Samarkand SCO Summit in 2022, the process of raising the status of Belarus within the Organization to the level of a member state started. The SCO has 14 Dialogue Partners – Azerbaijan, Armenia, Bahrain, Egypt, Cambodia, Qatar, Kuwait, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Sri Lanka.
Pakistan, which holds the rotating chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), is scheduled to host the SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG) in in Islamabad for October this year, Geo News reported.
Earlier in August, India received an invitation from Pakistan for the SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG) in-person meeting. While addressing a briefing in August, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, confirmed the invitation by Islamabad for the SCO meeting.