India Extends Invite to All SCO Nations, Including Pakistan, for Inaugural Civilisational Dialogue
New Delhi is set to host the inaugural Civilisational Dialogue Forum of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) from November 20 to 22. In a significant diplomatic move, the Indian government has extended invitations to all ten member states of the bloc, including Pakistan. The event, which aims to foster deeper cultural and intellectual connectivity across the region, represents a major multilateral initiative led by New Delhi.
Officials familiar with the preparations confirmed that the invitation has been formally sent to Pakistan’s Minister of National Heritage and Culture, Aurangzeb Khan Khichi. This outreach underscores India’s commitment to the SCO mandate, with government sources emphasizing that the forum is strictly a multilateral engagement and should not be misconstrued as a signal of a shift in bilateral relations.
A Platform for Cultural Exchange
The concept for this unique dialogue was first introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the SCO leaders’ summit held in Tianjin last year. The initiative is being co-organized by the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Culture, aiming to highlight the shared historical and civilizational threads that bind the diverse nations of the SCO.
The upcoming Delhi summit marks a notable moment in regional diplomacy, coming over a year and a half after the intense military confrontation between India and Pakistan known as Operation Sindoor. That four-day conflict, which began in May 2025 following the tragic Pahalgam terror attack, saw significant surgical actions by Indian forces against terror infrastructure. Despite the lingering geopolitical tensions stemming from such incidents, India has opted to maintain its commitment to the SCO’s inclusive framework.
Continued Stance Against Cross-Border Terror
Even as it opens the doors for multilateral cooperation, India has maintained an uncompromising position regarding security and cross-border terrorism. New Delhi continues to demand that member states prioritize the dismantling of terror networks, stressing that there is no space for “double standards” when addressing global security threats.
This firm stance was reiterated as recently as October 20 in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, during the 25th meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of Government. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, while addressing the assembly in the presence of Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, issued a sharp call for collective action against terrorism. Singh emphasized that global stability remains contingent upon the total elimination of terror-sponsoring mechanisms, a message that remains a cornerstone of India’s foreign policy within the bloc.
The diplomatic landscape between the two nations has seen rare moments of engagement, most notably when External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar traveled to Pakistan in October 2024 to attend the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting. His visit was a historic milestone, marking the first time an Indian foreign minister had visited Pakistan in nearly a decade.
As preparations for the November Civilisational Dialogue continue, the focus remains on leveraging the SCO platform to promote regional harmony and cultural discourse. While the inclusion of Pakistan in the upcoming Delhi forum invites speculation, government officials maintain that the focus remains firmly on the objective of regional civilizational integration, independent of the complexities defining the bilateral India-Pakistan narrative.
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