Pakistan has signalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be invited to the 2027 Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Islamabad, asserting that invitations will be extended to all members
in line with the established procedures.
During a media briefing, Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesperson announced that invitations for the summit would be extended to all SCO heads of state, implying that India would also be invited as a member of the organisation. “The invitation is an obligation of the host country and will be issued according to the established SCO protocol,” said the spokesperson, India Today reported.
Pakistan is scheduled to host theSCO Summit in Islamabad in 2027 as part of the organisation’s rotating presidency arrangements. The SCO is a significant annual international forum, with member nations including China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran and Belarus.
Established on June 15, 2001, the organisation aims to foster peace, stability, and economic prosperity across the Eurasian region.
2025 SCO Summit
Pertinent to note that 2025 SCO Summit was held in Tianjin, China, under the theme “Upholding the Shanghai Spirit: SCO on the Move.” The 2025 summit saw the presence of key world leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, and leaders from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
The summit, held in the face of a global trade war started by US President Donald Trump, was seen as a significant step in strengthening India-China bilateral ties.
The SCO Summit was widely seen as a significant diplomatic platform that brought together three major economic powers –– India, Russia, and China –– on a shared stage.
India-Pakistan Ties
The announcement also unfolds against the backdrop of strained ties between India and Pakistan in the aftermath of ‘Operation Sindoor’ –– New Delhi’s military response to the 2025 Pahalgam terror attack.
26 people, including 25 tourists and a local, were killed after terrorists opened fire at Baisaran Valley on April 22, 2025. Following this, India announced strong retaliatory measures against Pakistan, including the suspension of Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) and expulsion of Pakistani officials.
In line with its long-standing stance against terrorism, India also launched ‘Operation Sindoor’ on May 7 and destroyed nine terror camps in Pakistan’s Punjab province and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK), killing over a hundred terrorists. The operation prompted cross-border shelling from Pakistan, resulting in casualties on both sides.
