Pakistan has announced that it will participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Civilisational Dialogue Forum in New Delhi from November 20 to 22. Islamabad said Federal Minister Dr Musadik Malik will represent the country at the three-day event.
The announcement came a day after India’s Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said he was hopeful that Pakistan would confirm its participation. India had invited Pakistan’s National Heritage and Culture Minister, Aurangzeb Khan Khichi, to attend the forum.
What is the SCO forum?
The SCO Civilisational Dialogue Forum is the first such gathering organised by the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. It will be held at Delhi’s historic Purana Qila and aims to promote cultural exchange, shared heritage, literature, art and people-to-people connections among member countries.
India is hosting the inaugural edition of the forum. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to inaugurate the event on November 20.
A major diplomatic signal
Pakistan’s decision to attend is important because relations between India and Pakistan remain tense after the military confrontation in May 2025, which followed Operation Sindoor.
The participation of a senior Pakistani minister in a multilateral event hosted by India is being viewed as a limited but meaningful diplomatic engagement. It does not indicate a full normalisation of bilateral ties, but it creates a platform for dialogue through the SCO.
Who will represent Pakistan?
Although India had initially invited Aurangzeb Khan Khichi, Pakistan’s Foreign Office has announced that Dr Musadik Malik will lead the country’s delegation.
The change in representation follows consultations in Islamabad. Earlier, Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan had said the final decision would be taken by the country’s leadership after discussions with relevant institutions.
Countries attending the forum
Fifteen countries have confirmed participation in the forum, including China, Russia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. India had sent invitations to 25 countries.
The SCO forum is expected to bring together government representatives, cultural leaders and experts from across the region. Its central aim is to strengthen mutual understanding and cultural cooperation among Eurasian nations.
Why the Delhi meet matters
The SCO Civilisational Dialogue Forum gives India and Pakistan an opportunity to engage on a neutral, multilateral cultural platform. While the event is focused on heritage and civilisational exchange rather than political negotiations, the presence of a Pakistani minister in New Delhi carries diplomatic weight.
For India, the forum reinforces its role as host of a major SCO cultural initiative. For Pakistan, attendance offers a chance to participate in regional cultural diplomacy without formally altering its broader bilateral position.
What happens next
The forum will run from November 20 to 22 at Purana Qila in New Delhi. Pakistan’s participation is now confirmed, and attention will shift to the level of engagement between Indian and Pakistani representatives during the event.
The development may open a small window for cultural dialogue, but both countries are expected to maintain caution in their broader diplomatic approach.
