National Security Adviser Ajit Doval will open the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting of National Security Advisors (NSA) in New Delhi on Wednesday. Pakistan and China are likely to attend the SCO-NSA meeting virtually.
India is the current chair of the SCO, comprising eight member states, namely India, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
Besides representatives of other countries, secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, Nikolai Patrushev, will attend the annual meeting, ANI quoted a statement by Russian Security Council.
Multiple meetings are being planned in the country, leading to the SCO Heads of State Summit scheduled for July 2023. While SCO foreign ministers' meeting will take place in Goa in the first week of May, the defence ministers' meeting is scheduled to be held in Delhi from April 27-29.
The SCO is a major regional powerhouse established over two decades ago to promote economic, political, and military cooperation among its member nations. India became a member in 2017.
Meanwhile, there are reports that Pakistan has begun deliberations to decide whether or not to attend the SCO Goa and New Delhi meetings. India has already extended invitations to Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.
Pakistan had attended all SCO events, the chief justices' conference and meetings of energy ministers via video link,
except the one on military medicine specialists. This was after India objected to the use of maps incorrectly depicting the country’s borders, especially for Kashmir.
Meanwhile, a three-member Pakistan military delegation headed by a Brigadier attended the meeting of an expert working group under the Council of Defence Ministers in person last week. This was seen as a potential sign that the defence and foreign ministers may travel to India. The country's Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson had stated that a final decision would be taken closer to the events.
Reports quoting Pakistan-based Express Tribune said authorities in Islamabad are divided over attending these high-profile meetings. One view is that given the current state of the bilateral relationship, Pakistan, if required, would only send junior officials to the SCO meetings.
However, other officials disagree. They believe that Pakistan must not leave such key regional forums unattended. Since SCO comprises powerful countries, including Russia and China, Pakistan must use this opportunity to advance its interests.
However, a lot of it will depend on China, Pakistan's closest ally. According to the Express Tribune, if China asks Islamabad to attend the meets, it would be difficult for the government to ignore the advice since Beijing played a key role in making Pakistan a SCO full-time member.
However, Foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is reportedly keen to visit India for the SCO meeting. If Pakistan attends the defence and foreign ministers' meetings, it is possible that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif may also come to India in July for the SCO summit.
However, a final decision about Pakistani participation in SCO ministerial meetings and a summit would be taken after due diligence. It would also depend on the political situation in Pakistan.
