NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar arrived in Islamabad to represent India at the 23rd meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Government (CHG). The summit is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, with Pakistan hosting the event under tight security measures.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has emphasized that the focus of the summit will be on the trade and economic agenda of the organization. “The 23rd Meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of Government will be held on October 16, 2024, in Islamabad under Pakistan’s chairmanship. The SCO CHG meeting is held annually, concentrating on economic cooperation and trade issues,” the MEA statement read.

Jaishankar will lead the Indian delegation at the summit, reaffirming India’s active participation within the SCO framework. “India remains actively engaged in various initiatives and mechanisms under the SCO format,” the release said.

Ahead of his visit, Jaishankar clarified that his trip to Islamabad is purely for the SCO event and not intended for bilateral talks with Pakistan. “This visit is not about India-Pakistan relations; it is about being a good member of the SCO,” Jaishankar said, distancing the trip from bilateral diplomacy.

Security in Islamabad has been significantly heightened as foreign dignitaries begin to arrive for the summit. The Pakistan Army has been deployed to secure the event, along with key government buildings and the Red Zone area of the capital. Rangers have also been stationed across Islamabad as part of additional security measures.

To minimize risks, numerous businesses in Islamabad and neighboring Rawalpindi have been temporarily closed. Authorities have also shut down key routes throughout the city. Over 10,000 police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed to protect the roughly 900 delegates attending the summit.

The delegates will stay at various secured locations inside or near the Red Zone, with 14 sites arranged for their accommodation, according to reports from. A motorcade of 124 vehicles has also been prepared to facilitate transportation. The fleet is divided into two groups—84 vehicles for heads of state and 40 for other delegates.