Pakistan FM Bilawal Bhutto arrives in India, but no signs of....
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New Delhi, May 5: Pakistan's foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari arrived in Goa on Thursday to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Foreign Ministers meeting. Thus, he became the first senior leader from the neighbouring country to visit India in almost 12 years.
The visit comes amid continuing strain in ties between the two countries on several issues including Islamabad's use of cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.
#WATCH | Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari lands at Goa's Dabolim to attend Shanghai Cooperation Organisation's (SCO) foreign ministers' meeting.
— ANI (@ANI) May 4, 2023
(Source: Pakistan MoFA) pic.twitter.com/6ZtTmRCdL7
But no signs of...
There is no plan for a bilateral meeting between India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Bhutto-Zardari so far as there was no request for it from the Pakistani side, according to reports.
However, India-China bilateral
Meanwhile, the Sino-Indian border strife in eastern Ladakh again dominated Jaishankar's second bilateral with his Chinese counterpart Qin Gang. Jaishankar reiterated India's position that bilateral ties will return to normal only after the situation along the LAC is fully resolved.
A detailed discussion with State Councillor and FM Qin Gang of China on our bilateral relationship. Focus remains on resolving outstanding issues and ensuring peace and tranquillity in the border areas.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) May 4, 2023
Also discussed SCO, G20 and BRICS. pic.twitter.com/hxheaPnTqG
In his last meeting with Qin, on the margins of the G20 meeting in March, Jaishankar had told Qin that the relationship currently was abnormal and the message on this occasion was no different.
Ahead of Xi's visit
Amid the India-China border standoff, Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit India for the SCO summit on July 4. Xi and PM Narendra Modi are expected to have on the margins their first bilateral meeting since the border flare-up in May 2020 but India will hope to see more progress in the disengagement process before the meeting.
And Even Talks with Russia
In another bilateral meeting on Thursday, Jaishankar had "trust-based" exchanges with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on bilateral and "topical" global and regional issues.
Comprehensive review of our bilateral, global and multilateral cooperation with FM Sergey Lavrov of Russia.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) May 4, 2023
Appreciated Russia’s support for India’s SCO presidency. Also discussed issues pertaining to G20 and BRICS. pic.twitter.com/cgfhATd8D4
This gives us clearer understanding India and Pakistan are not ready to come under roof for a bilateral meeting amid the strained relations in the backdrop of Islamabad's providing safe haven to terrorists.