Islamabad/New Delhi, May 4: Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari left for Goa, India, on Thursday to attend a multilateral meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) scheduled to take place in India on May 4 and 5.
Bhutto Zardari is who the first foreign minister from Pakistan to visit India since 2011. He will be heading the country’s delegation to the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) of the Beijing-based SCO.
According to Pakistan Foreign Office (FO), the invitation to Bhutto Zardari to attend the SCO-CFM was extended by India’s Minister for External Affairs S Jaishankar, as the current chair of the SCO.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, the spokesperson for FO, said that Bilawal had departed for Goa from Karachi.
Bhutto also posted a video while leaving for Goa.
“FM @BBhuttoZardari departs from #Karachi to participate in the #SCO Council of Foreign Ministers,†the spokesperson tweeted with a picture of his departure.
“On my way to Goa, India. Will be leading the Pakistan delegation at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization CFM. My decision to attend this meeting illustrates Pakistan’s strong commitment to the charter of the SCO,†Bhutto Zardari tweeted before his departure.
“During my visit, which is focused exclusively on the SCO, I look forward to constructive discussions with my counterparts from friendly countries,†he said.
Upon Pakistan’s request, Bhutto Zardari was granted special permission by the Indian civil aviation authority to use the Indian airspace, Pakistan TV reported.
