Indian journalist Smita Sharma has expressed her opposition to Pakistan’s decision to invite Zakir Naik before the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit. During a discussion on Aaj News’ “Spotlight with Munizae Jahangir,” fellow journalist Suhasini Haidar noted that any potential thaw in relations between Pakistan and India is more likely to emerge after the summit, especially following Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar’s visit to Islamabad.
“This summit should not be seen as an attempt to break the ice during this visit,” Suhasini stated. She pointed out that while the SCO includes nations like Iran, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan, the meeting is aimed at discussing cooperation in economic and trade sectors, with observers believing the bloc seeks to counter Western influence in the region.
Suhasini acknowledged that Jaishankar had the option to attend the meeting virtually, similar to the Indian commerce secretary’s participation in a previous SCO trade meeting. She viewed Jaishankar’s physical presence in Pakistan as a positive development and mentioned the possibility of this visit being a “quid pro quo” following former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s visit to Goa for an SCO meeting last year. She cautioned, however, that any significant developments might take one or two months to materialize.
When asked about the Indian government’s concerns regarding a resumption of ties, Suhasini emphasized that such attempts could be viewed as a liability if they coincide with terrorist activities. She expressed hope for the resumption of trade and road links, stating, “If Pakistan makes an effort, I think Delhi will respond similarly.”
Smita Sharma also weighed in, responding to former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s remarks about potentially meeting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the future. She emphasized that context matters in such statements and noted that India is part of non-Western organizations like BRICS and the SCO.
Regarding Modi’s absence from the meeting, Smita explained that it was ultimately the Indian PM’s decision, pointing out that it was a gathering of heads of government rather than heads of state. She highlighted that public sentiment towards Pakistan varies across regions in India, particularly between Maharashtra and Punjab due to religious ties.
Critically, Smita remarked on Pakistan’s invitation to Zakir Naik, an Islamic preacher wanted in India. She stated, “Before the SCO, Pakistan invites Zakir Naik, who is wanted in India. Everyone should respect each other; even Pakistani citizens are asking the government to send him back.”
