Pakistan on Thursday formally confirmed that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been invited to the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting being held in Islamabad in mid-October.
Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, at her weekly press briefing, said the country had sent invitations to the heads of countries to participate in the meeting, Pakistani media reported
"An invitation has also been sent to the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi," she said, adding that some countries had already confirmed their participation in the meeting.
"It will be informed in due course which country has confirmed," Baloch added.
Pakistan is set to host the SCO heads of government meeting on October 15-16. The event will be preceded by a ministerial meeting and several rounds of senior officials’ meetings focused on financial, economic, socio-cultural, and humanitarian cooperation among the SCO member states.
Analysts see the invitation as a "protocol" as PM Modi is unlikely to accept the invitation as relations between the two neighbouring countries have been tense since August 5, 2019, when India abrogated the Constitution's Article 370, changing the status of Jammu and Kashmir.
It is expected that PM Modi may depute a ministerial delegation to represent India as the SCO meeting does not require heads of state to participate. In the past as well, SCO CHG meetings have seen India represented by ministers and the same pattern is this time as well.
PM Modi had not also attended the SCO's 24th annual summit of heads of state held in Kazakhstan on July 3-4 this year and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had represented India in Astana.
Pakistani analysts say they do not expect that PM Modi will come to Pakistan for the meeting.
"Extending invitations to PM Modi and all other member states is a compulsive protocol any host country follows. Pakistan has done the same. I do not see this as a political stunt. However, I do not see PM Modi landing in Islamabad," political analyst Kamran Yousaf said.
Last year, Pakistan's then-Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari visited India for the SCO Foreign Ministers' meeting.
Bangladesh court issues fresh arrest warrant against 18, including former PM Hasina and daughter
A Bangladesh court on Thursday issued an arrest warrant against 18 people, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her daughter Saima Wazed Putul, in a case filed on allegations of corruption in a plot allotment under the Purbachal New Town project, local media reported.
26/11 Mumbai terror attack mastermind Tahawwur Rana successfully extradited from the US: NIA
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday announced that it had successfully secured the extradition of Tahawwur Hussain Rana, the mastermind of the deadly 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, "after years of sustained and concerted efforts to bring the key conspirator behind the 2008 mayhem to justice".
Former NIA officer who interrogated Headley welcomes Tahawwur Rana’s extradition
Loknath Behera, former senior officer of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and part of the team that interrogated David Coleman Headley -- the key conspirator in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks -- on Thursday expressed satisfaction over the successful extradition of Tahawwur Rana from the United States.
Tahawwur Rana extradition: Israel praises Modi govt for bringing terrorists to justice
Thanking the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for its persistence in bringing terrorists to justice, Israel on Thursday welcomed the extradition of 26/11 plotter Tahawwur Rana from the United States to India.
As Rana lands in India, 26/11 martyr Tukaram Omble's brother demands hanging of Tahawwur
On the day Tahawwur Rana, one of the co-conspirators in the Mumbai terror attacks was brought to India, Eknath Omble, the brother of Ashok Chakra awardee and 26/11 martyr Tukaram Omble, urged the central government to hang the terrorist and send a strong message to Pakistan.
India and UK reaffirm free trade agreement, support supply chains
Amid the changing world trade order, India and the UK have reaffirmed their commitment to furthering the bilateral relations between the two nations, including continuing negotiations at pace towards a mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT).
Centre appoints special public prosecutor for 26/11 Mumbai terror attack case
The Central government has appointed Advocate Narender Mann as the Special Public Prosecutor for the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack case hearing.