India’s Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) National Coordinator Alok Dimri has arrived in Islamabad as Pakistan begins its 2026-27 chairmanship of the regional bloc.
Dimri described his visit as part of the SCO’s annual activities, which will continue throughout Pakistan’s year-long presidency and culminate in the SCO Council of Heads of State summit scheduled to be held in Islamabad in 2027.
His visit represents a rare diplomatic engagement between India and Pakistan amid strained bilateral relations. The two countries have maintained limited official contact in recent years, with multilateral platforms such as the SCO providing an avenue for continued engagement.
Speaking to reporters in Islamabad, Dimri said he expected progress in the SCO’s ongoing areas of cooperation and expressed hope that member states would continue moving forward on issues of mutual interest.
He highlighted regional connectivity, trade and transit as important areas for cooperation under the SCO framework. According to Dimri, the organisation provides a platform for countries across the Eurasian and Asian regions to work together on issues related to economic development and regional connectivity.
Dimri also said English could potentially be introduced as an additional working language for SCO discussions under Pakistan’s presidency. The organisation has traditionally conducted discussions in Russian and Chinese.
The Indian diplomat also expressed interest in visiting other Pakistani cities during future SCO-related activities. He mentioned Lahore, Sialkot and Faisalabad and noted that meetings and events would be held at different locations during Pakistan’s chairmanship.
Lahore has also been designated as an SCO Cultural City, providing an opportunity for cultural activities and people-to-people engagement under the organisation’s framework.
Pakistan assumed the 2026-27 SCO chairmanship at an SCO leaders’ summit in Bishkek earlier this month. Islamabad will oversee the organisation’s programme during the chairmanship before hosting the next Council of Heads of State summit in 2027.
The theme selected by Pakistan for its chairmanship is “Turning Vision into Action: Connectivity, Innovation and Shared Prosperity.” Islamabad has said it intends to focus on practical cooperation, regional connectivity, innovation, economic links and people-to-people contacts.
During the September 28-30 meeting, SCO national coordinators reviewed progress on key initiatives, discussed coordination among member states and considered ways to implement Pakistan’s priorities during its presidency.
The SCO delegation also visited the Pakistan National Council of the Arts, where participants were introduced to Pakistan’s cultural heritage and artistic traditions. Delegates also visited Naseer Bunda Hockey Stadium and received a briefing on arrangements for the SCO Hockey Tournament scheduled for November 20 to December 2.
The participating national coordinators also met Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, who highlighted Islamabad’s priorities for its SCO chairmanship and Pakistan’s intention to work with all member states.
The meeting concluded with agreed outcomes, with participating national coordinators reaffirming their commitment to SCO objectives and continued practical cooperation.
Pakistan’s year-long chairmanship will now involve a series of ministerial, working-level and cultural engagements before the organisation’s leaders gather in Islamabad for the 2027 summit.
