25th SCO Summit 2024: S. Jaishankar’s Visit to Pakistan

The 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit will take place in Islamabad on October 15-16, 2024. The summit aims to strengthen multilateral dialogue and promote sustainable peace and prosperity in South Asia.

SCO Summit 2024 Overview

Islamabad to host the 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit on October 15-16, 2024
Theme: "Strengthening Multilateral Dialogue—Striving Towards a Sustainable Peace and Prosperity"
Pakistan, under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, chairs the SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG)
Key participants include leaders from China, Russia, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, and Belarus
Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar's visit marks the first high-level Indian official visit to Pakistan in nearly nine years

SCO Background and Objectives

Established on June 15, 2001, in Shanghai, China
Expanded to nine member countries with India and Pakistan joining in 2017

Primary goals:

a) Strengthen mutual trust and cooperation among member states

b) Promote collaboration in political, economic, cultural, and security domains

c) Ensure regional stability and security through collective efforts against terrorism and extremism

Governance structure includes Heads of State Council (HSC), Heads of Government Council (HGC), and Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS)
Focus on enhancing regional security, economic cooperation, and combating terrorism

Summit Agenda and Key Issues

Combating terrorism: Addressing cross-border terrorism and enhancing security cooperation
Economic collaboration: Promoting trade and investment initiatives, including India's "Make in India" program
Climate change and environmental protection: Emphasizing sustainable practices and climate-resilient infrastructure
Regional stability and security: Reviewing the organization's activities and strategizing for future cooperation
Strengthening multilateral dialogue: Fostering cooperation amid rising global tensions

India-Pakistan Relations and Summit Dynamics

Tensions remain high due to the 2019 Pulwama attack and subsequent events
Both countries have ruled out bilateral talks during the summit
Jaishankar and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif exchanged greetings at an informal dinner
Former Pakistani leaders express hope for improved relations:

a) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari urged bilateral talks, acknowledging terrorism as a shared concern

b) Anwaar-ul-Hq Kakar noted a "deep appetite" in Pakistan for improved ties with India

India maintains its stance on addressing cross-border terrorism as a prerequisite for better relations
The summit provides a platform for multilateral engagement despite bilateral challenges

Ray Dalio's Recession Warning

Ray Dalio, the founder of Bridgewater Associates, one of the largest hedge funds globally, has once more garnered notice with his ominous caution about the U.S. economic deceleration. During his

Google Search privacy concerns

More and more people are worried about their privacy on Google Search as they learn more about how their information is gathered, tracked, and stored. Here are the most important things about these

US Tariffs' Impact on Apple

The US tariffs' impact on Apple has been a major concern for the tech giant, particularly as trade tensions between the US and China have risen. As one of the biggest tech companies in the wo

Tesla’s 2025 Market Dominance

As we move closer to 2025, Tesla’s 2025 market share will continue to be a major talking point in the automotive sector. Competition in the electric vehicle (EV) business is heating u

Global Naga Forum

The Free Movement Regime (FMR) and the Indo-Myanmar border barrier have come under fire from the Indian government, according to the Global Naga Forum (GNF). The rights and unity of the Naga pe

China-Pakistan Diplomatic Relations

Trade, defense, and strategic collaboration are just a few sectors where China-Pakistan diplomatic relations have flourished. One of the most crucial Asian geopolitical alliances is this cooper

Apple’s iPhone Production Shift in India

A huge shift in iPhone manufacturing has occurred in recent years, with tech giant Apple making iPhones in both China and India. Apple plans to move all US-sold iPhones to India by next year, m

Retaliatory Tariffs and International Trade Law

U.S. Reciprocal Tariffs and the Challenge to International Trade Law: A Wake-Up Call for India and the Global South. The global trade order has once again been rattled—this time by the U.S. r

Everything About DeepSeek Open-Source 2025

In the ever-evolving world of artificial intelligence, DeepSeek open-source 2025 is quickly becoming a hot topic. With its ambitious goal of making high-level AI tools more accessible, Chines

China Strikes Back at Donald Trump’s Tariffs

Donald Trump’s Tariffs Explained The world woke up to another tremor in the global economy as China responded sharply to Donald Trump’s tariffs, sending shockwaves through stock mar