Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari landed in Goa, India on Thursday to participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers meeting.
Bilawal reached Goa via Pakistan Air Force Special Saab 2000 flight reaches Goa airport where Indian authorities welcomed the foreign minister.
Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) ensured all preparations and earlier Bilawal traveled from Islamabad to Karachi for his departure to India.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, in a video message posted, before departing to India said, “On my way to Goa India. Will be leading the Pakistan delegation at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization CFM. My decision attend this meeting illustrates Pakistan’s strong commitment to the charter of SCO.”
Bilawal said during his visit, which is focused exclusively on the SCO, “I look forward to constructive discussions with my counterparts from friendly countries.”
MOFA said in a press release issued that Bilawal Bhutto to hold bilateral talks at the sidelines of the SCO Summit.
This is the first visit by any foreign minister in last 12 years approximately.
Bilawal Bhutto had consulted with political leaders before departing to India via special flight from Karachi to Goa.
The foreign minister telephoned JUI chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, MQM-P Convener Khalid Maqbool Siddique, Amir Jamaat-e-Islami Sirajul Haq, BNP chief Akhtar Mengal, Balochistan National Party leader Tahir Banjo and took them into confidence regarding his participation SCO summit in India.
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) was formed in 2001. Its members include India, Russia, China, Pakistan, and four central Asian countries - Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. India and Pakistan became its permanent members in 2017.
