Delhi to host inaugural SCO Civilisational Dialogue in November with Pakistan Minister invited
· World · The Hindu, Indian Express
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the first Civilisational Dialogue Forum of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in Delhi from November 20-22 at the 16th-century Purana Quila fort. India has invited Pakistan's Minister for National Heritage and Culture Aurungzeb Khan Khichi to the event, marking the first time India hosts a Pakistani minister since the 2023 SCO Foreign Ministers meeting in Goa. Culture Ministers from the 10 SCO member states, including China, Russia, Iran, and Belarus, along with 15 dialogue partners and observer countries, have been invited to the forum. The event was proposed by PM Modi at the SCO leaders' Summit in Tianjin last year and adopted by the SCO Council. According to diplomatic sources, Pakistan has not yet confirmed who will lead its delegation to the dialogue. The venue, Purana Quila, is a 16th-century fort built by Emperor Humayun, showcasing nearly 3,000 years of India's ancient past across multiple historical periods.
Why it matters
The dialogue represents a significant diplomatic engagement between India and Pakistan within the SCO framework, the first such minister-level interaction since 2023, potentially easing bilateral tensions through multilateral dialogue. The inclusion of Pakistan's culture minister at India's initiative signals a thaw in relations, though the absence of a confirmed Pakistani delegation head highlights ongoing sensitivities.
Read the original report — The Hindu
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