Pakistan Invites PM Modi to SCO Meeting Amid Strained Relations

Pakistan has invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) heads of government meeting in October. The invitation comes despite a history of strained relations between the two nations, primarily driven by the Kashmir issue and cross-border terrorism.

Pakistan has extended an invitation to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) heads of government meeting scheduled for October, according to a statement from the Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch on Thursday.

The invitation is part of a broader outreach to SCO member states, with the event set to take place on October 15-16. As reported by the Dawn newspaper, Baloch confirmed that some countries have already signaled their participation, with further confirmations expected in due course.

Despite the historical tensions between Islamabad and New Delhi, primarily over the Kashmir issue and cross-border terrorism, the SCO seeks to foster financial, economic, socio-cultural, and humanitarian cooperation among its members, which include influential nations like China, Russia, and others. The summit will also be preceded by a series of meetings among senior officials and ministers to set the agenda.

(With inputs from agencies.)