India Invites Pakistan to Delhi Under SCO Multilateral Obligations
India has formally invited Pakistan’s Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture, Aurangzeb Khan Khichi, to the inaugural Civilisational Dialogue Forum in New Delhi. Representatives from all ten Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states are expected to attend the event from November 20 to 22, 2026.
While some media outlets speculate this could reset diplomatic ties, analysts clarify it is purely a legal necessity. Under Articles 2 and 13 of the SCO Charter, host nations must invite all member states to official multilateral events .
The Ministry of External Affairs has separated this multilateral compliance from bilateral frozen disputes. India’s firm “no terror and talks together” policy remains solid . The event will be hosted at Delhi’s historic Purana Qila . This cultural sandbox puts Islamabad in a tough diplomatic dilemma without offering any direct bilateral talks.
