The article critically examines Pakistan’s participation in the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Goa, India, in May 2023, with particular emphasis on the diplomatic interaction between Pakistan and India. It discusses then-Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s articulation of Pakistan’s position on Kashmir, regional cooperation, terrorism and prospects for India–Pakistan dialogue. It also evaluates India’s approach towards Pakistan, CPEC and the constitutional changes made in Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019.
The article further explores the diplomatic confrontation surrounding allegations of terrorism, including discussion of the Pulwama attack, Satya Pal Malik’s subsequent statements, the Kulbhushan Jadhav case and the human-rights situation in Indian-administered Kashmir. Against this backdrop, it argues that sensationalist nationalism and domestic political considerations can constrain diplomacy and regional cooperation. The broader discussion highlights the importance of the SCO as a platform through which Pakistan can communicate its diplomatic position while continuing to advocate its stance on Kashmir and regional stability.
