While lining up for a group picture at the event, Indian FM Sushma Swaraj lineup up next to Shah Mehmood Qureshi, but after realizing that the Pakistan minister was standing next to her, she changed her place. Swaraj’s vacated spot was taken by Russia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov.
According to the Indian media, at the SCO Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, there will be no bilateral talks between India and Pakistan. Only pleasantries as per protocol exchanged between EAM Sushma Swaraj and Pakistan FM Shah Mehmood Qureshi.
FM Qureshi on Tuesday departed for Kyrgyzstan to represent Islamabad at the Shanghai Cooperation Operation (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers Meeting.
The two-day event will be attended by members of the SCO to approve resolutions to be adopted by the council of heads of states at the SCO meeting scheduled to be held in June.
Qureshi will also present Pakistan's point of view at the event. He would also hold bilateral talks with counterparts from other member states. He would also hold a one-on-one meeting with SCO general secretary Rashid Alimov.
Speaking to the media before his departure, Qureshi said that he will have the opportunity to exchange views with foreign ministers of eight countries, who will be attending the meeting.