Pakistan Leaders Reflect on Jaishankar’s SCO Visit as a Diplomatic Opportunity

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has hailed Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s recent visit to Islamabad as a significant step towards improving India-Pakistan relations

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has hailed Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s recent visit to Islamabad as a significant step towards improving India-Pakistan relations. Jaishankar’s brief trip, which marked the first by an Indian foreign minister to Pakistan in nine years, was aimed at attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit. Sharif, emphasizing the need for both nations to move forward and bury the past, expressed hope that the visit would mark a new beginning for peaceful ties. He drew parallels to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s surprise visit to Lahore in 2015, lamenting the long pause in dialogue since then. Sharif stressed that the two countries cannot change their geographic reality and should instead live as good neighbors. Sharif suggested he could be a bridge builder between the nations when asked about his role.

Although there was no formal bilateral meeting between the Indian and Pakistani foreign ministers during the SCO event, some Pakistani officials have projected Jaishankar’s visit as a potential “ice-breaker.” Sharif expressed optimism that this visit could open the door for future talks, allowing both nations to capitalize on their mutual potential. He also criticized former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s rhetoric, suggesting it had damaged relations between the two countries. Sharif reiterated that resolving issues through dialogue is crucial, especially given the strained relations since India’s airstrikes in Balakot in 2019 and the subsequent abrogation of Article 370 concerning Jammu and Kashmir. Sharif urged both nations to engage in discussions to chart a positive path forward.