Despite recent tensions between Pakistan and India, officials from both countries engaged through the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Islamabad, where Indian SCO National Coordinator Alok Dimri met Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.
Dimri, who is also an Additional Secretary at India’s Ministry of External Affairs, was part of the Indian delegation attending the first meeting of the SCO Council of National Coordinators under Pakistan’s 2026–27 chairmanship. The three-day meeting was held in Islamabad from September 28 to 30.
During a meeting at Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on September 30, Dimri warmly greeted Dar with a handshake. The interaction took place as the participating national coordinators called on the Pakistani foreign minister after concluding their scheduled discussions.
The Islamabad meeting focused on SCO cooperation, Pakistan’s chairmanship programme, upcoming events and preparations for future meetings. The participating countries also discussed coordination among member states and the implementation of priorities under Pakistan’s chairmanship theme, “Turning Vision into Action: Connectivity, Innovation and Shared Prosperity.”
India’s participation in the Islamabad meeting provided a platform for engagement within the multilateral SCO framework despite continuing differences between New Delhi and Islamabad.
The meeting concluded with agreed outcomes, while participating national coordinators reaffirmed their commitment to SCO objectives and continued cooperation among member states.
