Pakistan’s diplomatic triumph in Goa brings hope

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) recently held its Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) meeting in India to set the agenda of the forthcoming SCO Summit which will be held in July. Pakistan’s Foreign Minister (FM) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari led Pakistan’s delegation to attend the SCO-CFM despite severe tensions with India. This also marks the first visit by any senior Pakistani leader to the neighboring country, in over 12 years.

FM Bilawal’s decision to attend the SCO-CFM underscored Pakistan’s commitment to the mutual trust, equality, respect for cultural diversity, and the pursuit of shared development enshrined in the original “Shanghai Spirit.” It also enabled Islamabad to diplomatically engage with the other members of the SCO and present Pakistan’s point of view on a wide range of issues spanning from security, regional connectivity, climate change, Afghanistan and poverty, to Kashmir.

The SCO-CFM conference is nothing short of a diplomatic success for Pakistan and its position on important issues-- but it also came at a time when Pakistan was in search of diplomatic engagement to avoid isolation at both the regional and international level. After a long time, Pakistan was able to secure an impactful win on the diplomatic front.

It is no secret that FM Bilawal stole the limelight and was the center of media attention throughout the moot. His measured words during the conference as well as his candid and calm demeanor in media interactions in front of Indian journalists, reflected the maturity and wisdom of a statesman. SCO-CFM will be remembered as a landmark in his career because he achieved all the diplomatic targets Pakistan wanted from the conference: regional engagement, relevancy and avoiding diplomatic isolation.

FM Bilawal represents Pakistan’s new generation and the resilient young face of a country that is evolving, dynamic and eager for change.

Senator Sehar Kamran

The FM’s bilateral meetings with SCO Secretary General Zhang Ming, his Chinese and Russian counterpart Qin Gang and Sergei Lavrov as well as with his counterparts from Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan, on the sidelines were extremely productive and they agreed to deepen their collaboration in different spheres. An emphasis on people-to-people contacts, countering food security and increasing energy cooperation was made in the meeting with the Russian Foreign Minister.

There was a lot of domestic pressure on the Foreign Minister to not attend the SCO-CFM, but it’s clear he understands these engagements are an essential part of a country’s foreign policy. It also helps in promoting bilateral and multilateral relations between countries, improving understanding, and finding solutions to common challenges.

FM Bilawal represents Pakistan’s new generation and the resilient young face of a country that is evolving, dynamic and eager for change. His motivation and drive to present the soft image of Pakistan on the global stage is being appreciated. He understands the importance of diplomatic engagement and connectivity to secure a state’s interests, and not leaving any vacuum for a third party to exploit. In his public appearances, he successfully put forth Pakistan’s position on sensitive matters such as the Kashmir dispute and terrorism without mincing any words, in a polite but forceful manner. Even his critics acknowledged and appreciated his conduct. The maturity and resolve he displayed while representing the case of Pakistan has been a much-needed breath of fresh air.

More than anything, the young foreign minister represents a hope that the future of Pakistan is in safe and capable hands-- to take the country towards a path of peace with neighbors, prosperity and progress.

- Sehar Kamran is the President of the Centre for Pakistan and Gulf Studies (CPGS), she is a prominent politician, academician and practitioner in the areas of regional, international defense and strategic studies. Twitter @SeharKamran