India's decision to send a delegation to the SCO National Coordinators meeting in Islamabad has raised eyebrows, given that it is the first Indian official visit to Pakistan since Operation Sindoor. The answer lies in how the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation works — and what this particular meeting is.

The National Coordinators are the SCO's working-level backbone. They meet regularly to fix the calendar of ministerial meetings, working groups and summits. This three-day session is simply the opening engagement of Pakistan's 2026-27 chairmanship, ahead of the SCO Summit Islamabad will host in August 2027.

India's participation does not signal any change in its bilateral position. New Delhi has attended SCO events in Pakistan before — External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar travelled to Islamabad for the SCO heads-of-government meeting in October 2024. Both sides keep bilateral disputes out of SCO proceedings in line with the organisation's charter. For India, staying engaged preserves its voice in a grouping that includes China, Russia and Central Asia.