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India has invited Pakistan's culture minister to attend the inaugural SCO Civilisational Dialogue Forum in New Delhi, marking an important diplomatic development in India-Pakistan relations following Operation Sindoor in May 2025. The forum is scheduled to take place from November 20 to 22, 2026, and will bring together representatives of the member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to discuss shared cultural heritage, historical connections and people-to-people relations.

The invitation has been extended to all 10 SCO member nations, including Pakistan. Pakistan's Minister for National Heritage and Culture, Aurangzeb Khan Khichi, is among those invited to the event. However, Islamabad has not yet confirmed who will represent Pakistan at the November meeting. It is therefore not certain whether Khichi himself will travel to India or whether another representative will attend.

The invitation is significant because it marks the first time India has invited a senior Pakistani minister to the country since Operation Sindoor in May 2025. Relations between the two neighbouring countries have remained strained following the military confrontation that took place after the Pahalgam terror attack. Despite these tensions, both countries have continued to participate in multilateral engagements under the SCO framework.

The proposed forum is intended to create opportunities for cultural engagement among countries that share long histories, traditions and regional connections. India is organising the event through its Ministry of Culture in coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs. Culture ministers from all 10 SCO member states have been invited, while representatives from observer states and dialogue partners are also expected to participate.

The initiative was proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the SCO Council of Heads of State summit in Tianjin, China, in September 2025. It was subsequently adopted within the SCO framework. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh formally announced that India would host the forum during the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on October 20, 2026.

The historic Purana Qila in Delhi has been reported as a possible venue for the event. If confirmed, the location would provide a historical setting for discussions focused on civilisation, cultural traditions and historical connections.

The invitation to Pakistan does not, by itself, mean that India and Pakistan have resolved their differences. Instead, it highlights how the two countries continue to participate in a shared regional organisation even when their bilateral relations remain difficult. The actual significance of the invitation will also depend on Pakistan's response and the level of representation it sends to the forum.

What is the SCO Civilisational Dialogue Forum?

The SCO Civilisational Dialogue Forum is a cultural initiative designed to strengthen engagement among member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. Its main purpose is to highlight shared cultural heritage, historical links, art, literature, traditions and people-to-people connections across the region.

The forum is different from a meeting focused only on political or security matters. Its central theme is cultural understanding and the historical relationships between societies. Countries can have differences over political issues while still sharing cultural influences, trading links, artistic traditions and historical experiences.

Through the proposed forum, India aims to provide a platform where participating countries can discuss these connections and promote cultural cooperation. Such an initiative can bring attention to historical monuments, literature, traditional art, music, languages and other aspects of civilisational heritage.

The SCO includes countries from different parts of Asia and the wider Eurasian region. Its members have diverse languages, religions, political systems and cultural practices. At the same time, many of these countries have historical connections through trade, migration, travel, scholarship and interactions between neighbouring communities.

A cultural forum can help participants explore these connections without requiring them to agree on every political question. It can provide space for discussions about shared history, preservation of heritage, cultural exchanges and opportunities for future cooperation.

The inaugural forum is scheduled for November 20 to 22, 2026, in New Delhi. India has invited culture ministers from all 10 member countries. Representatives from SCO observer states and dialogue partners are also expected to attend, although the final list of participants and their levels of representation may depend on confirmations from the countries concerned.

The report states that representatives from more than 25 countries are expected to participate. This suggests that the event is intended to extend beyond a meeting involving only the core member states.

India's Ministry of Culture is organising the forum in coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs. The involvement of these two ministries reflects the cultural and diplomatic dimensions of the initiative. The Ministry of Culture is responsible for the cultural focus, while coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs connects the event with India's wider international engagement.

The proposed venue, Purana Qila, is also relevant to the forum's theme. The historic site in Delhi is associated with the city's long history and heritage. However, it has been reported as a possible venue, rather than a confirmed location in the information available.

Overall, the SCO Civilisational Dialogue Forum is intended to use culture and history as a way to strengthen engagement among participating countries. Whether it leads to further cultural partnerships or regular exchanges will depend on the discussions and decisions that emerge from the event.

India invites Pakistan minister: Who has received the invitation?

India has invited Pakistan's Minister for National Heritage and Culture, Aurangzeb Khan Khichi, to the inaugural SCO Civilisational Dialogue Forum. The invitation is part of India's broader effort to bring culture ministers from all 10 SCO member states together in New Delhi.

However, Pakistan has not yet confirmed who will represent the country at the event. This means that Khichi's attendance should not be treated as confirmed. Islamabad may announce its decision closer to the November meeting, but the available report does not establish when such an announcement will be made.

The distinction between an invitation and confirmed attendance is important. An invitation indicates that the host country has extended an opportunity to participate. It does not guarantee that the invited official will accept or travel to the event.

Pakistan's decision could determine whether the forum becomes an occasion for direct ministerial-level engagement between the two countries. If Khichi attends, it would mark the first visit by a Pakistani minister to India since May 2023, when then foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari travelled to Goa for an SCO foreign ministers' meeting.

If Pakistan sends another representative instead, the event could still provide an opportunity for participation through the SCO framework, although the diplomatic significance would differ from a visit by a senior minister.

The invitation has attracted attention because India and Pakistan have experienced strained relations since the military confrontation in May 2025. Under these circumstances, a proposed visit by a Pakistani minister would be watched as a development in the two countries' official engagement.

However, the invitation should be understood in its immediate context. India has invited all SCO member states, rather than inviting Pakistan alone. The Pakistani minister's invitation forms part of the broader cultural initiative involving the organisation's members.

The fact that Pakistan has been included is important because it shows that the forum is being organised within the SCO framework, where India and Pakistan remain members. Their continued participation in the organisation provides a channel for engagement even when bilateral relations are under pressure.

For now, the key unanswered question is whether Pakistan will confirm Khichi's attendance or nominate another representative. Until Islamabad announces its decision, the level of Pakistan's representation at the forum remains uncertain.

Why the invitation matters after Operation Sindoor

The invitation is significant because it comes after Operation Sindoor in May 2025, a period associated with heightened tensions between India and Pakistan. The two countries' relations were strained following the Pahalgam terror attack and the military confrontation that followed.

Since then, official engagement between the neighbours has remained a sensitive issue. A visit by a senior Pakistani minister to India would therefore attract diplomatic attention, particularly because no Pakistani minister has visited India since May 2023, according to the report.

The proposed November forum creates a possible setting for such a visit through a multilateral cultural event rather than a bilateral meeting focused directly on the disputes between the two countries.

This difference is important. In a bilateral meeting, India and Pakistan would engage directly with each other on matters concerning their relationship. At an SCO event, both countries participate alongside other member states under the framework of a regional organisation.

Multilateral meetings can allow countries to maintain official contact without requiring them to resolve all their bilateral disagreements. They also provide opportunities to discuss issues that affect several participating countries, such as cultural cooperation, heritage preservation and regional engagement.

India's invitation to Pakistan's culture minister can therefore be seen as a diplomatic development within the existing SCO framework. However, it does not automatically signal a major improvement in India-Pakistan relations or indicate that the two sides are preparing to restart comprehensive bilateral talks.

The available report does not announce a bilateral meeting between Indian and Pakistani officials during the forum. It also does not establish that either country has changed its position on the issues that have strained relations since May 2025.

The immediate significance lies in the invitation itself and the possibility of Pakistan sending a minister to India. If Khichi attends, it would provide a new example of senior-level official engagement after a period of heightened tension.

The response from Islamabad will therefore be important. Confirmation of Khichi's visit could give the forum additional diplomatic significance, while the nomination of another representative or a decision not to attend would lead to a different interpretation of Pakistan's participation.

It is also important to recognise that cultural diplomacy and political diplomacy operate at different levels. Cultural engagement may help maintain communication and encourage exchanges, but it cannot independently resolve difficult security and political disagreements.

For that reason, the invitation is best understood as a notable diplomatic opening within a multilateral event, rather than proof that relations between India and Pakistan have returned to normal.

What is the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation?

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, commonly known as the SCO, is a regional organisation that provides a framework for cooperation among its member states. Its activities cover areas including regional security, political engagement, economic cooperation and cultural exchanges.

The organisation is relevant to the latest development because India and Pakistan are both members. Their participation in the SCO allows them to attend meetings alongside other countries, even when relations between them remain strained.

The member states listed in the report are India, Pakistan, China, Russia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Belarus. Culture ministers from all 10 members have been invited to the inaugural Civilisational Dialogue Forum in New Delhi.

These countries represent a wide geographical area and have different political priorities, cultural identities and historical experiences. The SCO provides a shared institutional platform through which they can engage on subjects of common interest.

The forum's focus on civilisation and culture gives members an opportunity to discuss issues that may be less directly connected to immediate political disagreements. Participants can explore shared heritage, traditional practices, historical relationships and the role of cultural exchanges in strengthening mutual understanding.

India's invitation to Pakistan is particularly notable because the two countries have a complicated bilateral relationship. Nevertheless, both continue to participate in SCO engagements.

The report notes that India has continued to take part in SCO meetings hosted by Pakistan. In September 2026, India's SCO National Coordinator, Alok Dimri, travelled to Islamabad for a meeting related to the organisation's agenda and preparations.

This is an example of how institutional engagement can continue even when bilateral relations are strained. Participation in a regional organisation does not necessarily mean that member countries have resolved their differences. It means that they continue to engage through a shared forum on matters covered by that organisation.

The SCO framework also gives India and Pakistan opportunities to participate in discussions involving other countries. This can be useful when the subject concerns regional cooperation rather than only the relationship between two members.

The upcoming Civilisational Dialogue Forum fits into this wider pattern. It is intended to promote cultural engagement among the member states, while also involving representatives from observer states and dialogue partners.

The success of the forum will depend on participation, the quality of discussions and whether the initiative produces meaningful opportunities for future cultural cooperation. The invitation to Pakistan is one important aspect of the event, but the forum's overall purpose extends to all participating countries.

The role of Narendra Modi in proposing the initiative

The Civilisational Dialogue Forum was proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the SCO Council of Heads of State summit held in Tianjin, China, in September 2025.

According to the report, the initiative was subsequently adopted. It was intended to highlight cultural connections and promote dialogue among the countries that participate in the SCO.

The proposal reflects the use of cultural engagement as one part of international cooperation. Countries often have diplomatic, economic and security relationships, but they can also engage through literature, historical research, traditional art, education and heritage preservation.

A forum dedicated to civilisational dialogue can provide a setting for such exchanges. It can encourage participating countries to examine their historical connections and identify areas where cultural cooperation may be useful.

The focus on civilisation is also relevant to the diversity of the SCO's membership. The member countries have their own languages, traditions and historical experiences, but their societies have interacted through trade, travel and other forms of regional contact over many generations.

By proposing the initiative, India placed cultural dialogue on the organisation's agenda. The forum is now scheduled to take place in New Delhi in November 2026.

However, it is important to distinguish the announcement of an initiative from its eventual results. The proposal and adoption establish the forum's basis, but the long-term impact will depend on what happens during the meeting and whether participating countries pursue further cooperation afterwards.

The report does not detail specific agreements, programmes or joint cultural projects that will be announced at the forum. It is therefore too early to conclude that the event will lead to particular policy outcomes.

What is clear is that the initiative has moved from a proposal at the September 2025 summit towards its first scheduled gathering in India. The November meeting is expected to bring together cultural representatives from the SCO's member states and other participating countries.

The invitation to Pakistan forms part of that process. It is notable because of the state of bilateral relations, but the broader initiative is designed to include all SCO members rather than focus exclusively on India-Pakistan engagement.

Rajnath Singh's announcement and India's preparations

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh formally announced that India would host the Civilisational Dialogue Forum during the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on October 20, 2026.

This announcement marked an important step in confirming India's role as the host of the inaugural event. The forum is now scheduled for November 20 to 22 in New Delhi.

India's Ministry of Culture is organising the event in coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs. This arrangement brings together the cultural and diplomatic aspects of the initiative.

The Ministry of Culture's involvement is consistent with the forum's focus on art, literature, traditions and historical connections. Coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs helps connect the initiative with India's engagement with the SCO and its member countries.

The invitations to all 10 member states are central to the event's planned participation. Culture ministers have been invited from India, Pakistan, China, Russia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Belarus.

Representatives from observer states and dialogue partners are also expected to attend. The report indicates that participants from more than 25 countries are expected, although individual confirmations may still be pending.

The historic Purana Qila in Delhi has been mentioned as a possible venue. Its heritage setting would be relevant to an event focused on civilisational history, although the supplied information does not establish that the location has been officially finalised.

The remaining preparations include the participation of invited countries and the practical arrangements for the November event. Pakistan's representation is one of the key outstanding questions because of the diplomatic significance attached to a possible ministerial visit.

At this stage, there is no confirmed information in the supplied report about the detailed agenda, the names of all attending delegates or the agreements that may emerge from the discussions. Those details should not be assumed before official announcements are made.

The confirmed purpose is to create a platform for cultural dialogue among SCO members and participating partners. Its inaugural edition will also provide an opportunity to assess how the organisation can use cultural engagement to support wider regional cooperation.

India-Pakistan relations and the importance of multilateral engagement

India and Pakistan have a long and complicated relationship shaped by political, security and historical issues. The latest invitation has attracted attention because it comes after the military confrontation of May 2025 and a period of strained relations.

Despite these difficulties, both countries have continued to participate in multilateral engagements under the SCO framework. This is an important part of the current situation because it shows that membership in a regional organisation can provide a channel for contact even when bilateral ties remain difficult.

India's participation in SCO engagements hosted by Pakistan is one example. According to the report, India's SCO National Coordinator, Alok Dimri, travelled to Islamabad in September 2026 for a meeting related to the organisation's agenda and preparations.

The upcoming SCO leaders' summit is also expected to be hosted by Pakistan in 2027. This means that both countries will continue to have reasons to engage through the organisation's institutional activities.

Such engagement does not necessarily indicate that the two governments have resolved their differences. Countries can cooperate on certain regional matters while maintaining different positions on other issues.

The Civilisational Dialogue Forum offers a similar setting. Its main purpose is cultural engagement, and all 10 SCO members have been invited. Pakistan's inclusion follows from its membership in the organisation, although the timing of the invitation makes it diplomatically significant.

If a senior Pakistani minister attends, it would represent a notable visit after the period of heightened tension. It could also provide an opportunity for officials from the two countries to be present at the same event.

However, the supplied report does not confirm whether a separate meeting between Indian and Pakistani ministers is planned. Nor does it establish that the invitation is part of a wider bilateral agreement.

It is therefore important to avoid drawing conclusions that go beyond the available facts. The invitation represents an opportunity for participation, not a guarantee of improved relations.

The next steps will depend on Pakistan's response, the level of its representation and the way both countries engage during the forum. These developments may help observers understand whether the event remains primarily cultural or also creates space for additional diplomatic contact.

Why Pakistan's response will be closely watched

Pakistan's decision about the invitation is important because it will determine the country's level of participation in the inaugural forum. Islamabad has not yet confirmed who will represent Pakistan, leaving open the possibility that the invited minister may or may not attend.

The distinction matters because the diplomatic significance of an event can depend partly on the level of representation. Attendance by a senior minister would be different from participation by a lower-level official, although both could allow Pakistan to remain involved in the forum.

If Aurangzeb Khan Khichi attends, his visit would be the first by a Pakistani minister to India since May 2023, according to the report. That earlier visit was made by then foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to Goa for an SCO foreign ministers' meeting.

A visit in November 2026 would therefore attract attention as a new instance of ministerial-level engagement. However, it would take place in the context of a cultural forum involving multiple countries, rather than a confirmed bilateral meeting between India and Pakistan.

If Islamabad nominates another representative, Pakistan could still participate in the event without the invited minister travelling to India. The political interpretation of such a decision would depend on the official explanation and the level of representation ultimately announced.

If Pakistan does not participate, the forum would still involve the other invited members and participating partners, but the absence would remove one opportunity for direct engagement within the organisation.

The available report does not indicate which decision Islamabad will take. It would therefore be premature to predict whether Khichi will attend or to assign a specific political motive to Pakistan's eventual choice.

The key point is that Pakistan's response will help determine how the invitation translates into actual participation. Until an official confirmation is available, the event should be described as an invitation extended to the Pakistani minister, with attendance still undecided.

Purana Qila and the cultural focus of the forum

The historic Purana Qila in Delhi has been reported as a possible venue for the Civilisational Dialogue Forum. Although the location has not been confirmed in the supplied information, its historical character would fit the event's focus on cultural heritage and civilisation.

The forum is intended to bring together representatives from countries with rich and varied histories. A historic venue can provide a setting for discussions about heritage preservation, traditional knowledge, art and the relationships between societies over time.

Cultural events can also encourage participants to look beyond current political developments and consider the longer history of regional interactions. Historical sites, literature, traditional crafts and artistic practices can help illustrate how communities have influenced one another.

However, a shared historical background does not mean that participating countries have identical interpretations of history. Different societies may remember particular events differently or place different emphasis on specific cultural traditions.

A civilisational dialogue forum can provide a setting for exchanging perspectives while recognising these differences. Its value would depend on whether participants engage constructively and identify areas where cultural cooperation can be strengthened.

The proposed venue is therefore relevant as part of the event's cultural theme, but the final location and programme should be confirmed by the organisers. Until then, Purana Qila should be described as a possible venue rather than a finalised one.

The wider purpose of the forum remains the same regardless of the final venue: to promote engagement through shared heritage, traditions, literature, art and historical links.

Can cultural dialogue improve diplomatic relations?

Cultural dialogue can provide countries with opportunities to maintain communication, build familiarity and explore areas of common interest. However, its impact on diplomatic relations depends on the wider political environment and the willingness of participants to continue engaging after an event.

In the case of India and Pakistan, the invitation comes at a time when bilateral relations remain strained. A cultural forum can create a setting for participation alongside other SCO members without requiring the two countries to resolve their disputes before attending.

Such a setting may help preserve institutional contact. It can also demonstrate that regional organisations continue to provide opportunities for engagement even when relations between particular members are difficult.

At the same time, cultural cooperation should not be confused with a political settlement. Differences involving security and other bilateral issues require their own processes and decisions. An invitation to a cultural event does not establish that such negotiations have resumed or that a breakthrough is expected.

The forum's immediate purpose is to strengthen cultural engagement among SCO members. If participants agree on future exchanges, collaborative cultural programmes or other initiatives, those outcomes could provide a basis for continued cooperation.

The supplied report, however, does not confirm any specific agreements or bilateral discussions planned for the event. Its significance should therefore be assessed in terms of the invitation, the proposed gathering and the opportunity for participation.

For India and Pakistan, the level of engagement will depend partly on Islamabad's decision and the form of participation it confirms. If a Pakistani minister attends, it would be a notable development because of the period since the last ministerial visit in May 2023.

Even then, the broader state of bilateral relations would need to be assessed separately. One visit or one cultural event cannot, by itself, establish that the relationship has fundamentally changed.

What happens next before the November forum?

The next important development will be confirmation of Pakistan's representative. Islamabad has yet to state whether Aurangzeb Khan Khichi will attend or whether another official will represent the country at the event.

The forum is scheduled for November 20 to 22, 2026, in New Delhi. As the dates approach, further information may clarify the final list of participants, the venue, the agenda and the activities planned by the organisers.

India's Ministry of Culture and Ministry of External Affairs are coordinating the event. Culture ministers from all 10 SCO member states have been invited, while representatives from observer states and dialogue partners are also expected to participate.

The possible use of Purana Qila as the venue remains an additional detail to watch, since the location has been reported as a possibility rather than a confirmed arrangement.

Another question is whether the forum will produce any concrete follow-up initiatives. The event's stated purpose is to promote cultural engagement, but the supplied report does not identify specific agreements that are already planned.

For India-Pakistan relations, the key issue is whether the invitation results in ministerial-level participation. If Khichi attends, his visit would mark the first visit by a Pakistani minister to India since Bilawal Bhutto Zardari's visit in May 2023, according to the report.

If another representative attends, the invitation would still have resulted in Pakistan's participation, but the diplomatic significance would differ. If Pakistan declines to participate, the invitation would remain a notable gesture without leading to the anticipated visit.

None of these outcomes can be assumed in advance. The final decision rests with Pakistan, and the available information does not indicate what Islamabad will announce.

The forum's broader importance will also depend on participation from the other invited countries and the quality of discussions. As an inaugural initiative, it may provide a foundation for future cultural engagement under the SCO framework.

Conclusion: A notable diplomatic development, but attendance remains unconfirmed

India's invitation to Pakistan's culture minister for the SCO Civilisational Dialogue Forum is a notable development in regional diplomacy. The event is scheduled for November 20 to 22, 2026, in New Delhi and aims to promote shared cultural heritage, historical connections, art, literature and people-to-people relations among SCO members.

The invitation has been extended to Pakistan's Minister for National Heritage and Culture, Aurangzeb Khan Khichi, alongside culture ministers from the other nine SCO member states. However, Islamabad has not yet confirmed who will represent Pakistan at the event.

The development is significant because it marks the first time India has invited a senior Pakistani minister to the country since Operation Sindoor in May 2025. If Khichi attends, it would also mark the first visit by a Pakistani minister to India since May 2023, when then foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari travelled to Goa for an SCO meeting.

The forum was proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the SCO Council of Heads of State summit in Tianjin in September 2025. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh subsequently announced India's plan to host it during the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting in Dushanbe on October 20, 2026.

India's Ministry of Culture is organising the event in coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs. The historic Purana Qila in Delhi has been reported as a possible venue, and representatives from more than 25 countries are expected to participate.

The invitation comes against the background of strained India-Pakistan relations following the Pahalgam terror attack and the military confrontation in May 2025. Despite these tensions, both countries have continued to participate in SCO engagements, providing a channel for multilateral contact.

The invitation does not, by itself, confirm a broader diplomatic breakthrough or a return to normal relations. Its immediate importance lies in the opportunity for Pakistan to participate in a cultural event in India and in the possibility of renewed ministerial-level engagement.