Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s arrival in Goa for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers meeting has drawn significant attention from the Indian media.
While all foreign ministers are staying at the Taj Exotica in Benaulim, it appears unlikely that a meeting between Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and his Indian counterpart will take place.
On Thursday evening, Indian Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar hosted a dinner for the visiting dignitaries.
The two-day event will include official activities, including group photographs, meetings, signing of decision documents, and working lunches. Bilateral meetings between leaders and their counterparts from other countries are also scheduled.
Read: Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari Attends SCO Meeting in Goa Amid Strained India-Pakistan Relations
Upon his arrival in India, Bhutto-Zardari held talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, discussing bilateral, regional, and international issues of mutual interest. He assured Lavrov of Pakistan’s commitment to deepening cooperation with Russia in food security, energy, and people-to-people contacts.
Despite being the first Pakistani foreign minister to visit India in nearly a decade, there are no updates on whether Bhutto-Zardari will have an impromptu meeting or cordial handshake with his Indian counterpart. However, he expressed enthusiasm for constructive discussions with his counterparts from other SCO member nations.
