SCO Summit to begin in Pakistan, Islamabad in lockdown, S Jaishankar in attendance

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is set to land in Pakistan today on October 15 to attend the SCO meet. It will be for the first time in nearly nine years that India's foreign minister will travel to Pakistan.

The 23rd meeting of the Council of Heads of Government (CHG) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) began on Tuesday in Pakistan’s Islamabad. The two-day summit has drawn top leaders from member states and is taking place under stringent security measures. Key routes and businesses in both Islamabad and its neighbouring city, Rawalpindi, have been closed due to safety concerns.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is set to land in Pakistan today on October 15 to attend the SCO meet. It will be for the first time in nearly nine years that India's foreign minister will travel to Pakistan, even as the ties between the two neighbours remain frosty over the Kashmir issue and cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan.

Here are the top 10 points:

1. In preparation for the summit, Pakistani authorities have taken extensive measures to address ongoing political unrest and militant violence. Troops have been deployed throughout Islamabad, and hundreds of supporters of jailed opposition leader Imran Khan have been arrested. New laws limiting protests have also been enforced, although the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party recently called off a planned demonstration.
2. To ensure safety, the Pakistani government declared a public holiday in Islamabad for three days, starting Monday, with schools and businesses closed and large contingents of police and paramilitary forces patrolling the city.
3. According to Pakistan interior ministry, Pakistan army troops are in charge of securing the Red Zone, which houses the parliament, the diplomatic enclave, and the main summit venues.
4. The Summit program began with the arrival of delegations on Tuesday, followed by a welcome dinner hosted by the Pakistani Prime Minister. On Wednesday, the official proceedings will include remarks by Pakistan’s Prime Minister, document signings, and concluding statements. The leaders are also scheduled to issue media statements and attend an official luncheon.
5. Pakistan’s capital was under strict security lockdown as Chinese Premier Li Qiang landed in Islamabad on Monday ahead of the meet. Li’s visit is the first by a Chinese premier to Pakistan in 11 years. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif received Li at the airport.
6. The leaders from SCO member states attending the summit include Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Belarus Prime Minister of Roman Golovchenko, Kazakhstan Prime Mini­ster Olzhas Bektenov, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Tajik Prime Minister Kohir Rasulzoda, Uzbek Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov, Kyrgyzstan’s Chairman of Ministers Cabinet Zhaparov Akylbek, and Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref.
7. Shortly after his arrival in Islamabad, the External Affairs Minister is likely to attend a banquet reception hosted by Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Both sides have already ruled out any bilateral talks between Jaishankar and his Pakistan counterpart Ishaq Dar on the sidelines of the SCO heads of government summit.