Stage set for SCO summit in Islamabad on October 15-16

Pakistan’s capital Islamabad is gearing up to host the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit on October 15-16.

The summit will bring together high-profile leaders, including Russia’s Prime Minister Mikhail Vladimirovich and China’s Prime Minister Li Qiang. India’s participation, led by External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, adds a notable diplomatic element to the event.

What is SCO?

The SCO, initially established by China and Russia, now includes ten permanent members.

The founding members, China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan, were later joined by Pakistan and India in June 2017.

Currently, three countries hold observer status and 14 are dialogue partners, together representing about 40% of the global population and approximately 32% of the world’s GDP. Iran and Belarus were the latest additions in 2023 and 2024.

The organization’s goals include promoting regional peace, enhancing economic and technological cooperation, and encouraging good neighborly relations. A meeting of the SCO’s Ministers of Trade and Economic Affairs will be held on September 10-11, preceding the summit.

Summit guests and diplomatic dynamics

High-level delegations from member countries, including Russia and China, are confirmed to attend. The Russian and Chinese prime ministers are scheduled to arrive in Islamabad on October 14. India’s Subrahmanyam Jaishankar will also participate, marking the first Indian foreign minister to visit Pakistan since 2015.

However, the chances of a sideline meeting between Indian and Pakistani officials seem slim. Jaishankar has clarified that his visit is strictly to attend the multilateral event, with no intentions of discussing bilateral relations. Pakistan's Foreign Office echoed this stance, referring to Jaishankar’s comments as self-explanatory regarding sideline meetings.

Focus of the summit

The summit will focus primarily on economic cooperation, aligning with the SCO's principles of not addressing bilateral disputes during formal sessions. Despite this, informal meetings may still take place, provided they are pre-arranged.

The transition of the SCO presidency from Pakistan to Russia will be a key element of the summit, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif delivering opening remarks.

A joint declaration summarizing the outcomes is expected on the final day, October 16. Prior to this, national coordinators from member states will meet from October 11-14 to finalize agreements.

A media center at the Pak-China Friendship Center will accommodate around 150 national and international journalists.

The summit is expected to garner significant media attention, especially due to India's participation amidst strained relations with Pakistan.