GOA: The foreign minister of Pakistan, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has arrived in Goa on Thursday to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) conclave, becoming the first Pakistani foreign minister to visit India since the year 2011.
Bhutto Zardari’s visit comes amid continued strain in ties between India and Pakistan on a number of issues including Islamabad’s continued support to cross-border terrorism.
There is no plan for a bilateral meeting between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Bhutto Zardari so far as there was no request for it from the Pakistani side, the officials informed.
“On my way to Goa, India. Will be leading the Pakistan delegation at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization CFM. My decision to attend this meeting illustrates Pakistan’s strong commitment to the charter of the SCO,” said Bhutto Zardari in a tweet as he departed from Pakistan.
“During my visit, which is focused exclusively on the SCO, I look forward to constructive discussions with my counterparts from friendly countries,” he said.
The Pakistan foreign minister’s visit to India is the first such trip from Islamabad since 2011.
