Following Operation Sindoor, diplomatic relations between India and Pakistan became increasingly strained, with bilateral engagement virtually suspended. India has now signalled a possible reopening of diplomatic communication by inviting Pakistan to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Civilizational Dialogue Forum, scheduled for November 20–22, 2026, in New Delhi. Pakistan’s Minister for National Heritage and Culture, Aurangzeb Khan Khichi, has reportedly received an invitation, although Islamabad has yet to confirm his participation.
The three-day forum, described as the SCO’s first Civilizational Dialogue Forum, will be inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi at the historic 16th-century Purana Qila in Delhi. Cultural ministers from all 10 SCO member countries, including Pakistan, Russia, China, Iran and Belarus, have been invited. Diplomatic sources expect representatives from more than 25 countries to attend, including those from SCO observer and partner nations such as the United Arab Emirates.
The Union Ministry of Culture, in coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs, is organizing the forum to strengthen cultural diplomacy and cooperation among participating countries. Discussions will cover shared civilizational heritage, historical connections, education, knowledge exchange and cultural cooperation. Purana Qila has been selected as the venue to highlight India's historical significance and cultural continuity.
If Aurangzeb Khan Khichi attends, he would become the first Pakistani minister to visit India since 2023, when then Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari attended the SCO Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Goa. However, Pakistan has yet to formally respond to the invitation or confirm who would represent the country.
The initiative follows PM Modi’s proposal at the 2025 SCO Summit in Tianjin, China, to organize a civilizational dialogue in India. Despite tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad, both countries have continued participating in SCO meetings and maintaining institutional diplomatic contacts.
In September 2026, India’s SCO National Coordinator Alok Dimri visited Islamabad for discussions concerning the organization’s forthcoming summit. The visit marked renewed official engagement following External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s participation in the SCO Heads of Government Meeting in Pakistan in October 2024.
With Pakistan expected to host the SCO Summit in August 2027, India's latest invitation reflects the continuation of multilateral diplomatic engagement despite unresolved bilateral disputes. The upcoming Delhi forum could provide an opportunity for cultural interaction, although no bilateral talks between India and Pakistan have been announced.