Pakistan to Host SCO Summit in 2027 Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
Pakistan has announced that it will host the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in August 2027. This announcement comes as a senior Indian official from the Ministry of External Affairs, Alok Dimri, took part in a preparatory meeting in Islamabad. This marks the first official visit by an Indian delegation to Pakistan since Operation Sindoor last year.
The three-day meeting of SCO National Coordinators kicked off on September 29, 2026, just days after tensions between India and Pakistan erupted at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif exchanged accusations during their addresses, while diplomats from both nations responded to each other’s speeches, highlighting the ongoing issues of terrorism and the Kashmir dispute.
On the same day, India rejected comments made by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan regarding Kashmir during his UNGA speech. Dimri’s attendance at the SCO meeting signifies a higher level of Indian representation compared to previous events chaired by Pakistan, which saw lower-level participation from India.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that its chairmanship of the SCO aims to emphasize the theme “Turning Vision into Action: Connectivity, Innovation, and Shared Prosperity” for the years 2026-2027. The foreign ministry also noted that the meeting of National Coordinators is an important step in preparing for various high-level events, including the SCO Council of Heads of State meeting scheduled for 2027.
Indian officials noted that the SCO coordinators’ meeting is a multilateral engagement and does not carry special importance for India-Pakistan relations. However, Dimri’s involvement keeps the possibility open for higher-level attendance at future ministerial events and the council meeting, to which Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been invited. So far, India has refrained from participating in leader-level meetings in both Delhi and Islamabad.
Earlier this year, in 2023, PM Modi hosted the SCO Heads of Council Summit virtually, while Jaishankar met with Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto in person. While the Ministry of External Affairs has not confirmed whether Modi will travel to Pakistan next year, it has not completely ruled out the possibility.
In response to a media inquiry, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal declined to comment on India’s stance regarding Turkey’s potential membership in the 10-nation SCO, which includes China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Iran, Belarus, and four Central Asian states: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Erdogan has expressed Turkey’s desire for a “higher level” of engagement with the SCO, potentially seeking full membership in the near future.
Regarding Erdogan’s recent remarks about Kashmir at the UNGA, Jaiswal emphasized India’s position, stating, “This matter pertains to India’s territorial integrity, and no external party has the right to comment on it.” India firmly rejected any suggestions to involve other countries in the Kashmir issue.
This recent meeting and the statements made reveal the intricate dynamics between these nations, emphasizing the challenges and ongoing dialogues that continue to shape regional relations.
