Pakistan receives India's invitation to SCO Summit in New Delhi: FO

Foreign Office Spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan confirmed the development during his weekly media briefing, saying the summit was scheduled to take place in the Indian capital from November 20 to 22. He also addressed the possibility of Indian Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann visiting Pakistan, saying permission for such a visit rested with the Indian government.

Islamabad had not imposed restrictions on visas for Indian citizens, he added. Sikh pilgrims and Kartarpur Corridor. Responding to a question about the Indian Punjab chief minister’s reported interest in visiting Pakistan, the spokesperson highlighted Islamabad’s efforts to facilitate religious travel between the two countries.

He said Pakistan had issued visas to an additional 4,000 Sikh pilgrims during the first six months of 2026. In 2025, Pakistan granted 9,318 visas to Indian pilgrims, while 9,000 Sikh and 248 Hindu pilgrims visited the country.

However, India has kept pilgrim movement through the Kartarpur Corridor suspended since May 2025,. He said Pakistan was ready to welcome and facilitate Sikh pilgrims as soon as India lifted the restrictions. Islamabad was also looking forward to receiving Sikh pilgrims for celebrations marking the 557th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

Regional peace efforts. The Foreign Office spokesperson also discussed Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts to promote regional stability, particularly its role in facilitating dialogue between Iran and the United States. He said Pakistan had acted as a sincere mediator in the Iran-US dispute, bringing two countries that had not held direct talks for 47 years to the negotiating table under one roof.

Pakistan would continue its efforts to promote peace and stability in the region, he added, stressing that regional peace was in the interest of Pakistan, neighbouring countries and nations beyond the region. Khan further announced that Lieutenant General (retd) Nauman Mahmood, secretary-general of the Makkah-based joint defence alliance, would soon assume his responsibilities in Riyadh.

UN resolution on arms control. Separately, the spokesperson said Pakistan’s resolution on conventional arms control had been adopted with 180 votes at the United Nations. He said the resolution called for restraint, balance and dialogue to reduce the risks associated with regional conflicts., only India and Israel voted against the resolution.

He said their opposition raised serious questions about the seriousness of their commitments to international peace and stability, adding that the negative votes reflected what he described as a mindset contributing to regional instability.