SCO Summit
On Thursday, Pakistan officially announced that it has extended invitations to all heads of government from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for the forthcoming Council of Heads of Government (CHG) meeting in Islamabad.
This information was conveyed by Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch during a regular news briefing held in the federal capital.
Baloch confirmed that the SCO summit is scheduled to take place on October 15-16, 2024, and that Islamabad has already received some confirmations from the invited delegates.
This announcement follows earlier statements by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who had indicated that PM Modi would indeed be invited to the regional summit.
Asif emphasized that it would be inappropriate for the host country to exclude any member state, asserting that the SCO would not tolerate any attempts to selectively invite or exclude heads of state.
In response to queries regarding the attendance of Indian Prime Minister Modi, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had recently denied media reports suggesting that Modi might skip the summit.
The MEA urged media outlets to avoid speculation, stressing that no official decision had been made about the prime minister’s participation.
The ongoing tension between India and Pakistan, primarily due to the unresolved Kashmir dispute, remains a point of contention.
Baloch reiterated Pakistan’s stance on Jammu and Kashmir, describing it as an internationally recognized disputed territory. She highlighted that United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions mandate that the final resolution of the Kashmir issue should be determined through a UN-supervised plebiscite.
Baloch stressed that no alternative process could replace this fundamental right of self-determination for the Kashmiri people.
Regarding internal security issues, Baloch addressed questions about the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), stating that Pakistan has no intention of engaging in talks with the outlawed militant group.
She noted that the presence of such terror groups in Afghanistan has been confirmed by various international reports, including those from the United Nations. Baloch reiterated Pakistan’s expectation for Afghan authorities to take decisive action against these groups to safeguard Pakistan’s security.
She reaffirmed the Pakistani government’s firm stance against any negotiations with those involved in attacks on Pakistani and foreign nationals.
On the topic of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Baloch described the project as a transformative initiative that has made significant and transparent contributions to Pakistan’s development.
She emphasized that CPEC enjoys broad support across Pakistan’s provinces and political spectrum. Baloch clarified that the public debt associated with CPEC projects constitutes a minor fraction of Pakistan’s total debt.
Additionally, she noted that loans obtained from China for CPEC projects have favorable terms, including long maturity periods and low interest rates.
The spokesperson reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to ensuring the safety and security of all Chinese nationals, projects, and institutions involved in CPEC.
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