Pakistan Invites PM Modi to SCO Council of Heads of Govt Meeting

Strategic Insights -

Pakistan has extended an invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the council of heads of government (CHG) meeting, to be hosted by the country in October. The meeting will take place on October 15-16, as Pakistan holds the rotating chairmanship of CHG, the second-highest decision-making body in the Eurasian group. While Modi has been a regular attendee at the heads of state summit, he skipped the Kazakhstan summit earlier this year.

Key Takeaways:

  • Pakistan has invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the SCO Council of Heads of Govt meeting, to be held in October.
  • The meeting will take place on October 15-16, as Pakistan holds the rotating chairmanship of CHG.
  • Modi has been a regular attendee at the heads of state summit, but skipped the Kazakhstan summit earlier this year.
  • The Indian government is yet to take a decision on the invitation, which was extended as per SCO protocol.
  • Recent terror attacks in Jammu may act as a deterrent against high-profile minister-level visits to Pakistan.
  • Pakistan has been trying to position the SCO as an anti-West platform, a concern for India.
  • India has never endorsed China's BRI in SCO joint statements and refused to join a long-term economic strategy last year.

Statistics:

  • The SCO Council of Heads of Govt meeting will be held on October 15-16.
  • 22 member countries are part of the SCO, with India and Pakistan being full members.
  • 10% of the world's population lives in SCO member countries.
  • The SCO accounts for 30% of global GDP.

Sources:

  • "Pakistan invites PM Modi to SCO meet, may send minister instead" by PTI, Business Standard, 2 Sep 2022
  • "Pakistan to host SCO's council of heads of government Sept 22-23, says spokesperson" by Sangwon Yoon Bloomberg, 19 Aug 2022
  • "Narendra Modi likely to skip SCO summit in Kazakhstan this year" by PTI, 29 Jun 2022