India Invites Pakistan's Culture Minister to SCO Civilisational Dialogue Forum
Invitation Extended to Pakistan's Minister
File image of PM Modi (third from left) with SCO leaders in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, in September.(Photo:X)
New Delhi, Oct 27: India has officially invited Aurungzeb Khan Khichi, Pakistan’s Minister for National Heritage and Culture, to participate in the inaugural Civilisational Dialogue Forum of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) scheduled to take place in New Delhi from November 20 to 22, according to diplomatic sources.
As of now, Pakistan has not confirmed who will represent the nation at this three-day event.
If Khichi decides to attend, it would be the first instance of a Pakistani minister visiting India since Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the former foreign minister of Pakistan, participated in the SCO foreign ministers’ meeting in Goa in May 2023.
Culture ministers from all ten SCO member nations, including Russia, China, the UAE, Iran, and Belarus, have received invitations, along with representatives from observer and dialogue partner countries.
This upcoming forum is set against the backdrop of tense India-Pakistan relations, and the invitation could pave the way for ministerial-level discussions within this multilateral framework, contingent on Pakistan's decision regarding participation.
Relations between India and Pakistan have been strained since Operation Sindoor was initiated by India in May 2025 in response to a terror attack in Pahalgam.
Khichi's attendance would signify the first visit by a senior Pakistani official to India following the military operation.
Despite ongoing bilateral tensions, India has maintained engagement with Pakistan through the SCO platform.
In September 2026, India dispatched its SCO National Coordinator, Alok Dimri, to Islamabad for discussions ahead of Pakistan's presidency of the SCO and the upcoming leaders’ summit scheduled for August 2027.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is anticipated to inaugurate the forum, which will convene representatives from over 25 nations at Purana Quila, a historic fort dating back to the 16th century in the capital.
The Ministry of Culture is collaborating with the Ministry of External Affairs to organize this event.
The idea for the Civilisational Dialogue Forum was put forth by Modi during the SCO leaders’ summit in Tianjin in 2025 and was later adopted by the organization.
The forum aims to emphasize civilizational connections, cultural diplomacy, and collaboration in heritage, education, and traditional knowledge systems.
Organizers hope to foster cultural understanding, showcase shared heritage, and enhance people-to-people interactions among member states and partner nations.
It remains uncertain whether Pakistan will send its culture minister or another representative. Khichi's potential participation could add a significant diplomatic aspect to the inaugural forum, although there has been no confirmation of his attendance yet.