FREEZING AND THAWING OF RELATIONS

India's relations with Canada are at their lowest point while Jaishankar's visit to Pakistan sparks hope

- DR. VIJAY DARDA

Pakistani leaders were hoping that India would send representatives to the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation) meeting, but no one expected that India's foreign minister S Jaishankar would attend the same in person. This surprise move led Pakistan's former foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar to exclaim, "Smart move!" Pakistan spared no effort in welcoming the Indian foreign minister.

I recall last year's SCO meeting in Goa, which was attended by Bilawal Bhutto amid an extremely tense atmosphere. The acrimony was triggered by Bilawal Bhutto himself then. Jaishankar, however, handled the Islamabad visit quite differently. As a seasoned diplomat and influential foreign minister, he made his point strongly but refrained from attacking Pakistan.