Islamabad under lockdown as Jaishankar to arrive for SCO meet

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Updated - October 15, 2024 02:51 pm IST - Islamabad

The Pakistani capital will be in complete lockdown as External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and other leaders of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) arrive in Islamabad on Tuesday (October 15, 2024) to attend the Heads of Government (HoG) meeting.

An army vehicle moves past a welcoming billboard with portraits of China’s Premier Li Qiang, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari, displayed along a road leading to the venue of the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Islamabad.

An army vehicle moves past a welcoming billboard with portraits of China’s Premier Li Qiang, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari, displayed along a road leading to the venue of the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Islamabad. | Photo Credit: AP

A 300-strong delegation led by Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrived in Islamabad on Monday, to conduct bilateral meetings, while Mr. Jaishankar is expected to arrive on Tuesday evening by a special plane, in time for a dinner hosted by Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. 

A 300-strong delegation led by Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrived in Islamabad on Monday, to conduct bilateral meetings, while Mr. Jaishankar is expected to arrive on Tuesday evening by a special plane, in time for a dinner hosted by Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. While Mr. Jaishankar has visited Pakistan as Foreign Secretary in 2015, this is his first visit as External Affairs Minister, and the first such visit to Pakistan in nine years.

A traffic police officer stands next to a logo of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), displaying at a road leading to the venue of the upcoming SCO summit in Islamabad.

A traffic police officer stands next to a logo of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), displaying at a road leading to the venue of the upcoming SCO summit in Islamabad. | Photo Credit: AP

On Wednesday, Mr. Jaishankar will attend the HoG meet to be held in Islamabad’s Jinnah Convention Centre, which will be hosted by Mr. Sharif, to be followed by a lunch also hosted by the Pakistani Prime Minister, giving the leaders a number of occasions to hold bilateral conversations and pull-asides should they need to.

Both External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar have downplayed expectations of talks between them, stressing that this is a “multilateral” event. However, it is significant that Mr. Jaishankar has decided to come at all, given that India has attended other SCO events in Pakistan via videoconferencing. Last month, Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal attended the SCO Trade Minister’s meeting virtually.

As India and Canada locked horns over the Nijjar case on Monday, expelling six diplomats each, speculation rose that Mr. Jaishankar may put off his visit. However, when asked by journalists in Delhi, he said that the Pakistan visit was “still 24 hours away” indicating that there had been no change in his plans. Mr. Jaishankar is expected to fly back to Delhi on Wednesday after the Conference and signing of SCO documents.

Mr. Li, who is in Pakistan on a State visit, was accorded a 21-gun salute on his arrival, after which he and Mr. Sharif held talks and virtually inaugurated the new Gwadar airport, gifted to Pakistan by China on Monday.

A man takes photo with a floral artwork ‘Peacock’ display close to the venue of the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Islamabad.

A man takes photo with a floral artwork ‘Peacock’ display close to the venue of the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Islamabad. | Photo Credit: AP

Apart from high-security levels accorded to the visitors, that include the Prime Ministers of Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Belarus as well as the Iranian First Vice-President, parts of Islamabad’s “Blue” and all of its “Red” Zones have been sealed off to the public for the SCO meet, said officials, given fears of protests by the Opposition party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf led by jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan. In addition, terror attacks on Chinese engineers last week, and the shooting of 21 miners in Balochistan have fuelled worries about the conference.

More than 9,000 security force personnel have been deployed, and armed police and paramilitary officials could be seen dotting all main streets and venues in the Pakistani capital. At hotels where journalist delegations, including the Indian delegation is staying, armed guards have been deployed on every floor. The Pakistani government has announced a three-day public holiday in the capitals, with schools, businesses and many markets shut.

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