SCO meet in Islamabad: What India's participation means and what to expect

India is participating in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s (SCO) Council of National Coordinators (CNC) meeting in Islamabad from September 28 to 30, as Pakistan begins its first major organisational engagement after taking over the grouping’s 2026-27 chairmanship.

Indian Joint Secretary Alok Dimri is expected to represent New Delhi at the three-day meeting. The discussions will focus on the programme of activities under Pakistan’s chairmanship, preparations for upcoming SCO meetings and other organisational matters.

The meeting is expected to help finalise the calendar of events for Pakistan’s tenure, including various ministerial-level engagements and other SCO activities. Pakistan has adopted the theme “Turning Vision into Action: Connectivity, Innovation and Shared Prosperity” for its chairmanship.

What will India focus on?

The CNC meeting is primarily an organisational forum, with representatives from member states working on the SCO’s schedule and coordination.

For India, the meeting provides another platform to participate in the bloc’s multilateral mechanisms despite the absence of substantive bilateral engagement with Pakistan. India and Pakistan became full SCO members in 2017 and have continued to participate in the organisation’s meetings and activities.

Security cooperation, including counterterrorism, remains an important part of the SCO’s work. India has previously raised concerns over cross-border terrorism at SCO forums, while the grouping’s Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) is tasked with cooperation against terrorism, separatism and extremism.

The current meeting will also feed into preparations for the SCO Council of Heads of State summit that Pakistan is scheduled to host in August 2027.

India has attended SCO events in Pakistan before

The latest meeting is not the first time Indian officials have travelled to Pakistan for an SCO event.

In October 2024, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar represented India at the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting in Islamabad. The two-day gathering discussed cooperation in areas including economy, trade, environment and socio-cultural links.

More recently, Indian representatives attended the 12th meeting of the SCO heads of border services in Islamabad in July 2026. Officials from India and other member states discussed developments along international borders and cooperation on border security.

The Islamabad CNC meeting therefore continues India’s participation in the SCO’s institutional processes, even as India-Pakistan bilateral ties remain strained.