International
oi-Gaurav Sharma
India will host the inaugural Civilisational Dialogue Forum under the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on November 20-22 in New Delhi.
The forum will bring together representatives from the 10-nation group of nations including Pakistan, China, Russia and Iran, and will likely focus on promoting cultural dialogue and exchanges.
India hosts the inaugural SCO Civilisational Dialogue Forum in New Delhi, November 20-22, to promote cultural exchanges among 10 member nations including China and Russia. Pakistan has been invited, but the specifics of its delegation remain unconfirmed.
The forum was proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a summit of SCO leaders in Tianjin last year and was subsequently accepted by the SCO Council.
Pakistan Has Been Invited, But Details Unclear
The Indian government has invited Pakistan’s Minister for National Heritage and Culture, Aurangzeb Khan Khichi, to attend the forum, diplomatic sources said.
But it is yet to be confirmed who will be leading the Pakistani delegation.
If Khichi were to attend, it would mark the first time a Pakistani minister has attended an event in India since the SCO Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Goa, May 2023.
It would also be the first time a minister has visited since the four-day war between India and Pakistan in May 2025.
All 10 member states’ culture ministers have been invited to attend along with representatives from 15 dialogue partners and observer states. Delegations from China, Russia, Iran, Belarus and Central Asia are expected to attend.
What Is The SCO?
The SCO comprises a politico-economic and security alliance between Eurasian nations. Key areas of focus include regional cooperation, anti-terrorism, trade, energy and economic connectivity.
The group originated from the Shanghai Five in 1996, with founding members China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. The group later formally became known as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in 2001.
It now includes India, Pakistan, Iran and Belarus meaning there are now 10 member states.
The SCO Secretariat is based in Beijing, China. The Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) can be found in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
India became a full member of the group in 2017, giving them the opportunity to interact with key Eurasian powers.
India Interacts With SCO Despite Tension With Pakistan
Despite the tension between India and Pakistan since 2016, where India has refused to attend SAARC meetings in Islamabad, New Delhi has been interacting with theSCO including attending meetings held in Pakistan.
The two groups operate in separate regions with the SCO providing India with an international platform to interact with China, Russia, Central Asian countries and other member states.
The Civilisational Dialogue Forum may provide an extra opportunity for cultural and diplomatic interaction between member states but it is still unclear if Pakistan will attend.
