Historic Handshake: Jaishankar's Visit to Pakistan

 

S Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister of India, did something significant for the first time in nine years by visiting Islamabad as Indian Foreign Minister to attend the forthcoming meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). This marked a defining moment for India-Pakistan relations as its precursor was signified by high tensions and fewer dialogues. Upon his arrival, the visiting minister of external affairs was greeted by Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and their handshake at an informal dinner was the moment everybody had been looking out for, as it depicted a thaw.

Jaishankar will talk about regional terrorism and extremism at the SCO Summit while emphasizing connectivity and cooperation. During this visit, both sides have clearly stated their disapproval of bilateral formal meetings that reflect the dynamics that are going on now. Pakistan's Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal stated that there was a need for trade and communication in the country. This reflected the same feelings of the Lahore Declaration in 1999, when it was undertaken to bring both countries closer with each other.

Even the leaders from both sides - ex-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and ex-Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, among others - are suddenly talking about a renewed dialogue and cooperating on the challenge of climate change, facing both nations. Jaishankar's SCO-related visit opens future possibilities of engagements that can represent a new shift in India-Pakistan relations.".