Indian journalists accompanying External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar to Pakistan this week have described his visit as a “positive” step for improving relations between the two nations, despite tempered expectations for a significant breakthrough. This visit marked the first by a top Indian diplomat to Pakistan in nearly a decade.
Jaishankar arrived in Islamabad on Tuesday to attend the two-day Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Heads of Government summit. He was accompanied by a group of Indian journalists, who highlighted the symbolic nature of the visit, given the long-standing tensions between nuclear-armed neighbors India and Pakistan.
Since their partition in 1947, both countries have experienced multiple wars and conflicts, fueled by territorial disputes, particularly over the Kashmir region. While Jaishankar’s visit was primarily focused on the regional SCO platform, many viewed it as a potential starting point for easing strained bilateral ties.
During the summit, Jaishankar shook hands with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and shared a luncheon with Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar. Upon the summit’s conclusion, Jaishankar expressed his gratitude to the Pakistani leaders for their hospitality, a gesture viewed as a positive sign of diplomatic engagement.
Smita Sharma, an Indian freelance journalist, acknowledged that Jaishankar’s participation sent a constructive message. “The fact that the Indian government chose to send its foreign minister to this summit is a positive signal,” she told Arab News. However, she tempered expectations, noting that the SCO Charter prohibits discussions on bilateral issues, limiting the scope for any major diplomatic progress during the summit.
Sharma further highlighted that the entrenched positions of both India and Pakistan on sensitive issues, including terrorism and the Kashmir dispute, continue to pose significant barriers to improving relations. “I do not see any immediate prospects for a peace dividend,” she said.
Ashish Kumar Singh, the national bureau head at ABP News, emphasized the importance of increasing people-to-people exchanges between India and Pakistan. He noted that easing visa restrictions could foster greater interaction between citizens and journalists on both sides. Singh remarked that there were more exchanges before 2014 but added that relations have since been strained due to India’s concerns over terrorism.
During his address at the SCO summit, Jaishankar underscored the need to combat terrorism, separatism, and extremism in the region. He acknowledged that trust and good neighborly relations are essential for regional cooperation, but he also noted that the lack of these qualities impedes progress within the SCO framework.
Singh also observed that the body language between Jaishankar and Pakistani leaders during the summit was notably positive, indicating a potential thaw in relations. “Diplomacy is not just about words; body language matters,” he said, pointing to the cordial interactions between Jaishankar and Sharif as an encouraging sign.
Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar described Jaishankar’s visit as an “ice breaker,” adding that Pakistan’s hosting of the SCO summit had enhanced its role at the regional level. “For regional connectivity, climate change, and counterterrorism, Pakistan is seen as a key player,” Tarar told Arab News.
While major diplomatic breakthroughs may remain elusive, the visit has generated cautious optimism, particularly regarding the potential for increased dialogue and people-to-people contact between the two countries in the future.
