Informal 'Chit-Chat' Between Jaishankar And Shehbaz Sharif On The Sidelines Of SCO Meeting

Indian's External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar had an informal "chit-chat" with leaders at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Heads of Government Summit, including with Shehbaz Sharif, host and Prime Minister of Pakistan.

Islamabad: India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar had an informal “chit-chat” with leaders at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Heads of Government Summit, including with Shehbaz Sharif, host and Prime Minister of Pakistan.

Sources speaking to India Today Global confirmed that the two leaders spoke in the lounges when they were chit-chatting amongst other dignitaries attending the SCO.

Interestingly, the visit of the Indian minister was bereft of the acrimony that was on display when then Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari visited Goa, India, last year for the SCO foreign ministers’ meeting.

Dr. Jaishankar in a post on X called his meetings “productive” and mentioned the eight outcome documents that were signed. “Signed eight outcome documents. India made a positive and constructive contribution to the deliberations,” he posted.

While outlining 8 key takeaways from the Indian perspective, he emphasised on:

-Developing a dialogue on the idea of One Earth, One Family, One Future.
-Outcomes of 🇮🇳 initiatives like SCO Startup Forum, SWG on Startups and Innovation and Traditional Medicine welcomed by SCO members.
-DPI & Digital inclusion becoming part of SCO cooperation framework.
-SCO taking inspiration from Mission LiFE to achieving UNSDGs.
-Enhancing global food security and nutrition through promoting use of climate-resilient and nutritious grains such as millets.
-Upholding fair and balanced connectivity projects in accordance with international law, the goals and principles of the UN Charter and SCO Charter.
-Re-emphasising rules-based, non-discriminatory, open, fair, inclusive and transparent multilateral trading system with WTO at its core.
-Opposing protectionist actions, unilateral sanctions, and trade restrictions that undermine the multilateral trading system and impede global sustainable development.

He also extended his best wishes to Russia which takes over Presidency of the SCO Council of Heads of Government.

While departing from Islamabad, he thanked the Pakistani premier and his counterpart for “the hospitality and courtesies”.

“Departing from Islamabad. Thank PM @CMShehbaz, DPM & FM @MIshaqDar50 and the Government of Pakistan for the hospitality and courtesies,” he posted on X

Dr. Jaishankar was on a 24-hour visit to Pakistan. He landed at 3:30pm PST on Tuesday in Islamabad and departed at 4pm PST on Wednesday.