World · South & Central Asia · 2 hrs ago
India invites Pakistan to inaugural SCO cultural forum in Delhi
India has invited Pakistan to an SCO cultural forum in Delhi, alongside the other members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
The first Civilisational Dialogue Forum runs November 20-22 and is being organised by India’s culture and foreign affairs ministries.
Pakistan’s National Heritage and Culture Minister Aurangzeb Khan Khichi was invited, but Pakistan has not said who will lead its delegation.
The forum was proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and adopted by the SCO, which includes 10 member countries.
It will explore shared heritage through sessions on religion and philosophy, art and architecture, languages and literature, and living traditions.
The invitation is for a multilateral event, not a change in bilateral ties; it comes after a military conflict between India and Pakistan in May 2025.
The forum is due to be inaugurated by Modi at Delhi’s Purana Quila, though whether Khichi will attend remains unknown.
India has invited all 10 Shanghai Cooperation Organisation members, including Pakistan, to its inaugural Civilisational Dialogue Forum in Delhi from November 20 to 22.
The forum was proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the SCO leaders’ summit in Tianjin last year and adopted by the SCO Council.
Pakistan’s Minister for National Heritage and Culture, Aurangzeb Khan Khichi, was invited, but Pakistan had not confirmed who would lead its delegation.
The event is being organised by India’s ministries of culture and external affairs and will be inaugurated by Modi.
Organisers say the forum aims to promote awareness and appreciation of the SCO countries’ shared civilisational heritage.
- Who
- India has invited all 10 SCO member states, including Pakistan. Pakistan’s Minister for National Heritage and Culture, Aurangzeb Khan Khichi, was invited.
- What
- India will host the SCO’s inaugural Civilisational Dialogue Forum.
- When
- November 20-22, 2026.
- Where
- Delhi, at Purana Quila (Old Fort).
- Why
- The forum aims to promote awareness and appreciation of the SCO countries’ shared civilisational heritage.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed the Civilisational Dialogue at the SCO leaders’ summit in Tianjin, and the SCO Council adopted it.
A four-day military confrontation between India and Pakistan followed the Pahalgam terror attack.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh called for joint action against terrorism at an SCO meeting in Dushanbe.
The inaugural Civilisational Dialogue Forum is scheduled to take place in Delhi.
- SCO members
- 10 countries, including India and Pakistan
- Forum dates
- November 20-22, 2026
- Venue
- Purana Quila (Old Fort), Delhi
- Pakistan invitee
- Aurangzeb Khan Khichi, Minister for National Heritage and Culture
- Organisers
- India’s ministries of culture and external affairs
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What people are saying
India deals with SCO as an entity, as an important organisation