Pakistani foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari weighed in on the prospects of attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in India this year. India took over the presidency in 2022 for a year and sent invitations to all members, including Pakistan and China for the summit. While speaking to WION on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference (MSC), Bhutto said that Pakistan has “received the invitation”. He added that the SCO is very important and the “rules are very clear we don’t take up bilateral issues and disputes at this forum”.
Speaking about Pakistan’s attendance, which is not clear yet because of the strained India-Pakistan ties, he said, “Our discussions to attend, at what level to attend, are still undergoing.”
World leaders, top diplomats and prominent dignitaries have gathered at the Munich Security Conference, which is a major annual global gathering focused on defence and diplomacy.
The ongoing Russia-Ukraine war dominated the security conference, which is aimed at debating issues of global concern.
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On being asked about the Munich conference, Bhutto said, “It is very important for the entire world, and we are engaging with everyone and having bilateral meetings, tomorrow we have some more meetings and seminars on Afghanistan.”
“Our meetings with Ukraine FM would be a continuation of the policy of neutrality and message to everyone is the same that Pakistan believes and an extended conflict is not in the interest of the developing world,” he said.
Further added, “We would like dialogue and diplomacy in pursuit of peace, that is a message to Russians and Ukraine and to the world.”
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