ISLAMABAD – In a significant yet discreet diplomatic engagement, Pakistan and India held an extraordinary meeting during the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, a rare interaction amidst the long-standing tensions between the two neighboring nuclear powers.

Reliable sources confirmed, “This interaction, initiated by Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, saw Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar having conversation during a luncheon session at the summit.”

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The dialogue took place against a backdrop of strained ties, with both countries harboring deep-rooted grievances over a range of issues, including the Kashmir dispute, and accusations of supporting cross-border militancy.

The meeting, though not officially pre-scheduled, garnered attention due to its potential implications for the frosty ties between the two countries.

The two South Asian nations have experienced limited diplomatic contact in recent years, with a notable cooling of relations-following India’s revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status in August 2019.

According to diplomatic sources, the brief meeting between Dar and Jaishankar was arranged following a request from the Indian side. As a result, Pakistan’s Foreign Office adjusted the seating arrangements to enable the interaction during the SCO summit’s luncheon event. The meeting, though not officially pre-scheduled, garnered attention due to its potential implications for the frosty ties between the two countries.

Sources close to the event revealed that Dar and Jaishankar engaged in a conversation, but the contents of their discussion remain undisclosed. A lack of transparency surrounding the dialogue has fueled speculations in political circles and media about what was discussed, and whether it could mark a shift, however small, in the diplomatic dynamics between Islamabad and New Delhi.

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In this scenario, some analysts view the engagement as a possible opening for dialogue between the two countries, particularly given the recent geopolitical shifts in the region.

The Indian external affairs minister’s request for the meeting could indicate a willingness from New Delhi to explore diplomatic avenues, despite the persistent hostilities.

After attending the SCO summit, Jaishankar returned to India without issuing any statement about his interaction with Dar, leaving many questions unanswered.

Pakistan’s Foreign Office has also refrained from sharing details.

The interaction comes amid a turbulent period in Pakistan-India relations. Since the 2019 Pulwama attack, followed by India’s airstrikes in Balakot, the two countries have maintained a hardline stance against each other. The abrogation of Article 370 by India, which stripped Jammu and Kashmir of its special status, further deepened the diplomatic rift, leading to a suspension of trade and downgrading of diplomatic ties.

Diplomatic engagements, such as the one that took place during the SCO summit, are rare and often viewed with cautious optimism by observers.

The SCO summit itself served as a platform for discussions on regional security, economic cooperation, and connectivity. While the summit’s formal agenda did not include a focus on bilateral disputes, the presence of top leaders from Pakistan, India, and other member countries created an environment conducive to informal discussions on the sidelines.

For Pakistan, the summit was an opportunity to demonstrate its active role in regional diplomacy, particularly in promoting connectivity and economic integration. For India, the event provided a chance to engage with its neighbors, including Pakistan, on broader regional issues, even as their bilateral relations remain fraught with challenges.

Despite the diplomatic overture, significant hurdles remain in normalizing the relations between Pakistan and India.

The meeting between Dar and Jaishankar, though brief, is seen as significant in the context of the SCO’s broader goals of promoting dialogue and cooperation among member states. It highlighted the complexities of the regional order, where geopolitical rivalries often intersect with opportunities for collaboration on shared challenges like counter-terrorism and economic growth.

Despite the diplomatic overture, significant hurdles remain in normalizing the relations between Pakistan and India. The core issue of Kashmir remains a major sticking point, with both sides maintaining divergent positions.

Pakistan continues to call for dialogue on the Kashmir issue and insists on adherence to UN resolutions, while India maintains that Jammu and Kashmir is an internal matter and has ruled out talks under what it describes as “cross-border terrorism.”

Furthermore, domestic political dynamics in both Pakistan and India heavily influence their respective foreign policies, with leaders often using nationalist rhetoric to appeal to their domestic audiences.

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This approach tends to prioritize short-term political gains over long-term regional stability. The emphasis on national pride and sovereignty in political discourse in both Islamabad and New Delhi can create an atmosphere where compromise is seen as a weakness, rather than a diplomatic strength.

As a result, the space for genuine dialogue and meaningful engagement between the two nations is significantly constrained, making it difficult to address longstanding issues and build a path toward sustained cooperation.

Experts remain divided on the significance of the meeting between the two foreign ministers. Some believe that the engagement could pave the way for further diplomatic contacts, particularly if regional security dynamics necessitate cooperation. Others, however, view the interaction as a mere diplomatic gesture with limited potential for altering the current trajectory of bilateral ties.

While the immediate outcomes of the SCO summit are unlikely to transform Pakistan-India relations, the meeting between Dar and Jaishankar suggests a recognition of the need for dialogue, even in challenging times. Whether this interaction leads to a broader thaw in relations remains uncertain, but it underscores the ongoing significance of diplomatic engagement in South Asia’s complex geopolitical landscape.

As the SCO summit concluded and the participants departed, the region — and the world — will be watching closely to see if this brief encounter can eventually lead to a more sustained dialogue between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.