India has invited Pakistan and the nine other member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to participate in the inaugural Civilisational Dialogue Forum, scheduled to be held in New Delhi from November 20 to 22, 2026. The initiative aims to strengthen cultural ties, promote mutual understanding and encourage people-to-people exchanges among member nations.
The invitation comes at a time when relations between India and Pakistan remain strained following the military confrontation in May 2025. Pakistan's Minister for National Heritage and Culture, Aurangzeb Khan Khichi, has been invited to attend the forum, although Islamabad has yet to confirm its participation.
Rajnath Singh announces initiative at SCO meeting
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced India's plan to host the first SCO Civilisational Dialogue Forum while addressing the organisation's Council of Heads of Government meeting in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on October 20.
Singh highlighted India's longstanding friendship with Tajikistan and its close ties with Central Asian countries. He also reiterated the importance of strengthening cooperation among SCO members on security, connectivity and regional development.
The forum was proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the SCO leaders' summit in Tianjin, China, in September 2025. It is intended to provide a platform for member countries to showcase their civilisations, art, literature, traditions and shared heritage.
More than 25 countries expected to participate
The forum is expected to bring together representatives from more than 25 countries, including the 10 SCO member states and countries with observer or dialogue partner status.
According to reports, the three-day event is expected to take place at Purana Qila, the historic 16th-century fort in New Delhi. The Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of External Affairs are collaborating to organise the gathering.
Discussions are expected to focus on cultural diplomacy, civilisational connections, heritage preservation, education and traditional knowledge systems. The initiative is aimed at encouraging greater understanding and cooperation across the Eurasian region.
India reiterates its position on terrorism
While extending invitations to all SCO member countries, India has continued to emphasise the need for collective action against terrorism.
Addressing the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting, Singh called for an uncompromising approach to tackling terrorism and urged member nations to take action against those who finance, support or provide safe havens to terrorist groups.
The remarks came amid continuing tensions between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025 and the subsequent launch of Operation Sindoor by India in May 2025.
Despite the strained bilateral relationship, both countries continue to participate in multilateral engagements under the SCO framework.
Pakistan's participation remains uncertain
Pakistan has been invited to the forum along with all other SCO members. However, its government has yet to confirm whether its culture minister will attend.
If Khichi participates, the visit would mark the first visit by a senior Pakistani minister to India since Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari attended the SCO foreign ministers' meeting in Goa in May 2023.
Pakistan assumed the rotating chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State for the 2026–27 term on September 1, 2026, and is scheduled to host the organisation's summit in Islamabad in August 2027.
India's invitation reflects its engagement with all SCO members through the multilateral platform, even as bilateral relations with Pakistan remain tense. The upcoming forum is expected to provide an opportunity for participating countries to strengthen cultural cooperation and explore their shared civilisational heritage
