Will Pakistan invite PM Modi for SCO Summit next year? What Islamabad said

The statement was issued in response to a query on whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be invited for the high-level meeting next year. Pakistan will invite Heads of State of all member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) for the summit in Islamabad next year, the Pakistan Foreign Ministry has said.Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.The statement was issued in response to a query by a journalist on whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be invited for the high-level meeting next year.The development comes against the backdrop of unprecedented strains in bilateral ties after a brief but intense conflict last May.In the statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Pakistan said “all member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization will be invited at the level of the Heads of State or Government, should they wish to attend at the level of the Head of Government.”“Invitations will obviously be extended, and this is an obligation on the part of Pakistan as the host. We will invite all Heads of States and Government to the Summit meeting,” it said.The ministry was also asked if External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had requested a meeting with his Pakistani counterpart, when the two leaders attended the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting under the ASEAN framework.Also read | ‘No Pakistani Kashmir’: Why Indian embassy in US fact-checked New York Times' ‘misleading' headline“I am not aware of any meeting request from India on the sidelines of the ARF in Manila. I cannot comment,” the Pakistan ministry said.India and Pakistan have not had any sustained talks since New Delhi called off the composite dialogue in the aftermath of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, which were carried out by the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and killed 166 people.Also read | ‘Pakistan pushed to the wall’: Former Indian envoy Vidya Bhushan Soni on PoK unrestThe political leadership on both sides have attempted to resume contacts, though these efforts were derailed by a string of terror attacks blamed on Pakistan-based groups, and India responded to the Pahalgam terror attack last year with several punitive economic and diplomatic measures, including the four-day military strikes on terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960.Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read MoreNarendra ModiGet the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.