A two-day meeting of foreign ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) begins in Goa from today, hosted by India. The member countries involved in the meeting will discuss regional challenges and political upheavals in this conference. Most talked about A bilateral meeting is being held on the sidelines of the conference between Jaishankar and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

India is hosting this conference at a time when the border dispute with China in eastern Ladakh has escalated, relations are tense. Russia's tension with the western countries has also increased due to the Ukraine war. Similarly, the expansionist policy of China is worrying everyone. Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari are likely to attend the meeting during the conference. India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will chair the meeting.

People associated with the preparations told that there will be more talks on increasing mutual business, investment and connectivity here. On the other hand, due to the Taliban rule and the current situation, concerns will be discussed about Afghanistan becoming a terrorist training ground. According to sources, Jaishankar may also hold meetings with foreign ministers of China and some other countries on the sidelines of the conference. The conference will begin on May 4 with the welcome of the member countries. From May 5, the group will deliberate on the main topics.

S Jaishankar himself reached Goa on Wednesday to take stock of the preparations for 'SCO Foreign Minister's Conference 2023'. After the Samarkand conference 2022, India took the chairmanship of SCO. It has been hosting several meetings and conferences of the SCO including foreign ministers. All the members including Pakistan, China and Russia have been invited for participation, all have agreed to participate.

China's Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday that its Foreign Minister Qin Gang will share his views on the international and regional situation related to various fields and topics with the members. At the same time, Russia's Defense Ministry said that his Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will raise international affairs and local agenda for discussion in India. Pakistan's Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari expressed his happiness for getting the opportunity to participate in the conference. Pakistan's foreign ministry spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch had said that their participation reflects Pakistan's commitment to the SCO charter and foreign policy priorities.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto is coming to India for the foreign ministers' meeting. This will be the visit of a Pakistani foreign minister to India after 12 years. Earlier in 2011, the then Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani had come to Khar. However, there are no plans for Bhutto to meet Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar on the sidelines of the meeting.