The Pakistani Foreign Office has definitively ruled out any scheduled meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, at the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in China. During the weekly media briefing on Friday, Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan stated that there was “no planned engagement” between the two leaders, quelling widespread speculation about a potential thaw in relations.
The briefing served to outline Pakistan’s active diplomatic agenda beyond its dealings with India. Spokesperson Khan announced that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will embark on a visit to Bangladesh, a trip expected to yield positive outcomes in enhancing bilateral trade ties and fostering cooperation in combating terrorism. On the issue of Palestine, Pakistan reiterated its strong condemnation of the so-called ‘Greater Israel’ plan.
The spokesperson also provided details on recent high-level engagements. He confirmed that during the recent visit of the Chinese Foreign Minister, Pakistan briefed its ally on the ongoing human rights violations in Indian-occupied Kashmir and appreciated China’s consistent support for the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination. The productive sixth Pakistan-China Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue was highlighted, where both sides agreed to advance cooperation under CPEC Phase II and strengthen collaboration in trade, investment, energy, defence, and cultural exchanges.
Furthermore, the recent trilateral meeting in Kabul between the foreign ministers of Pakistan, China, and Afghanistan was discussed. This meeting focused on enhancing political, economic, and security cooperation, with an emphasis on joint efforts for regional peace and the potential expansion of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) into Afghanistan. Pakistan reiterated its support for peace and development in Afghanistan, while China pledged its continued involvement in the country’s reconstruction.
