NEW DELHI: India has invited all 10 member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), including Pakistan, to participate in the inaugural SCO Civilisational Dialogue Forum, scheduled to be held in New Delhi from November 20 to 22.
The initiative aims to strengthen cultural ties, promote mutual understanding and deepen engagement among SCO member states.
The invitation follows Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s announcement on October 20 that India would host the first SCO Civilisation Dialogue Forum by the end of this year.
India Highlights Cultural Ties with Central Asia
Addressing the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, Singh highlighted India’s longstanding friendship with Tajikistan and its close relations with Central Asian countries.
He said the SCO’s 25-year journey provided an opportunity for member states to review their collective achievements and discuss the organisation’s future direction.
Singh also recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for concrete measures to strengthen security, connectivity and opportunities across the SCO region.
India Calls for Collective Action Against Terrorism
During his address, the Defence Minister stressed the need for a collective and uncompromising approach to combating terrorism, describing it as a major threat to peace and development.
He said terrorism not only results in the loss of innocent lives but also disrupts investment and commerce, promotes radicalisation and deprives young people of opportunities.
Singh called for an approach without double standards and urged SCO member states to dismantle the entire ecosystem supporting terrorism, including its financing, support networks and safe havens.
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar was also present at the meeting.
Pakistan Assumes SCO Chairmanship
The development comes as Pakistan assumed the rotating chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State for the 2026–2027 term on September 1, 2026, taking over from Kyrgyzstan following the SCO summit in Bishkek.
The SCO currently comprises 10 member states: Belarus, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
India became a full member of the organisation in 2017. The grouping also includes Afghanistan and Mongolia as observer states and has 15 dialogue partners.