An Indian official’s visit to Pakistan this week has drawn attention because such trips have been extremely rare. Here is what the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting in Islamabad is about, and why it matters.

What is the SCO? The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is a 10-member regional bloc that includes China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Iran and five Central Asian states. It works on security, trade and connectivity across Eurasia.

What is happening in Islamabad? The SCO’s Council of National Coordinators is meeting from September 28 to 30. India’s coordinator, MEA Additional Secretary Alok Dimri, is attending. Pakistan, which chairs the SCO Council of Heads of State for 2026-27, will host the SCO summit in August 2027.

Why does the visit matter? It is the first visit by an Indian official to Pakistan since Operation Sindoor in May 2025. India-Pakistan ties remain deeply strained, with sharp exchanges at the UN General Assembly just days ago. The engagement is strictly at the SCO working level, with no bilateral talks signalled.