India has denied Pakistan access to the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). An event on the contribution of the armed forces to military medicine, healthcare, and pandemics was held in Delhi without a team from Pakistan.
ISLAMABAD:
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) symposium on the military’s contributions to military medicine, healthcare, and pandemics was held in New Delhi on Tuesday. In an unusual decision, India refused to allow Pakistan to attend.
The SCO is now being presided over by India, who is also hosting a number of activities. Official representation from Pakistan was anticipated at the think tank conference with the theme “SCO Armed Forces Contribution in Military Medicine, Healthcare, and Pandemics.”
According to a person acquainted with the situation, “In doing so, India has abused its position as the current chair and acted irresponsibly in depriving a sovereign member State, the opportunity to participate in a SCO event.”
Indian media says that New Delhi took issue with the Pakistani side’s usage of a map displaying Jammu and Kashmir as their territory. The Pakistani side was instructed to present the “proper map” or leave the seminar after the issue was brought to the attention of the Indian external affairs ministry.
According to the Indian media, the Pakistani delegation made the decision to abstain. According to sources in Islamabad, India formally retracted its invitation.
Pakistan rejected India’s justification that it could bar a member state from a SCO event due to a misunderstanding of the characteristics of a disputed region between Pakistan and India.
According to the source, “Jammu and Kashmir remains an internationally acknowledged disputed territory, whose final disposition is to be determined in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions through a fair and impartial plebiscite under the auspices of the United Nations.”
Pakistan has been actively participating in the various SCO events being held under the present chairperson of India with a positive and constructive attitude, in keeping with its strong commitment to the Shanghai spirit, the SCO charter, and its objectives.
Pakistan has urged India to refrain from using its SCO leadership to further its own self-serving goals and polarize the group.
Pakistan’s defense and foreign ministries have been invited by India to the SCO summits in April and May. Pakistan has not yet accepted the invitation from India.
