India has extended an invitation to Aurangzeb Khan Khichi, Pakistan’s Minister for National Heritage and Culture, to attend the inaugural Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Civilisational Dialogue Forum. This event is scheduled to take place in New Delhi from November 20 to 22, according to diplomatic sources. The invitation represents a significant diplomatic gesture, as it is the first time a senior Pakistani minister has been invited since the military operation known as Operation Sindoor.

The decision to invite Khichi comes in the context of ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan, which have been exacerbated since Operation Sindoor was launched in May 2025 following a terror attack in Pahalgam. If Khichi accepts the invitation, it would mark the first visit by a senior Pakistani official to India since Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the former Foreign Minister of Pakistan, attended the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Goa in May 2023.

Details of the SCO Forum

The forum was announced by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on October 20. Singh confirmed that all ten member states of the SCO have been invited to participate in the forum. He stated, “At the end of this year, India will host the first SCO Civilisation Dialogue Forum. We invite all SCO countries to participate in it.”

The primary objective of the forum is to enhance cultural connections and foster mutual understanding among the member states. Singh’s remarks at the meeting also included a strong call for a unified approach to combatting terrorism, emphasising that there should be no double standards in addressing the issue. He stated, “There should be no double standards in dealing with terrorism, and no place for those who finance, support or provide safe havens to terrorists. The entire ecosystem of terrorism must be firmly and collectively dismantled.”

During the meeting, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar was also present, highlighting the importance of the discussions surrounding regional security and cooperation. The presence of Pakistani officials at such events indicates a potential for dialogue, despite the existing tensions between the two nations.

Context of India-Pakistan Relations

Pakistan assumed the rotating chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State for the 2026-27 term on September 1, 2023, succeeding Kyrgyzstan after the summit in Bishkek. The SCO, which comprises ten member states, includes Belarus, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. India has been a full member of the organisation since 2017.

In addition to its member states, Afghanistan and Mongolia hold observer status within the SCO, while the organisation also includes 15 dialogue partners. The upcoming forum in New Delhi is seen as an opportunity for member states to engage in discussions that could lead to improved relations and collaboration on various cultural and security issues.

The invitation to Pakistan’s minister is noteworthy, given the backdrop of strained relations, and it raises questions about the potential for future diplomatic engagements. As the forum approaches, the international community will be observing how this invitation is received and whether it leads to any significant developments in India-Pakistan relations.

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