Mains issueGS-2News & Analysis02 October 2026

India's Multilateral Engagement Amidst Bilateral Tensions: A Strategic Imperative

An aspirant should be able to argue that India's engagement with adversaries in multilateral forums like SCO is a pragmatic foreign policy choice driven by strategic imperatives, aiming to protect national interests, maintain situational awareness, and manage complex geopolitical challenges despite bilateral tensions.

Source: indianexpress.comOriginal report

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Why now

India's recent participation in an SCO meeting in Pakistan, despite frozen bilateral ties, highlights a critical aspect of its foreign policy. This event underscores India's pragmatic approach to multilateral diplomacy, balancing national interests with regional obligations amidst complex geopolitical challenges.

Core issue

India recently sent a senior official to Pakistan for a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) national coordinators' meeting, marking the first such visit since Operation Sindoor last year, despite frozen bilateral ties. This pragmatic engagement is driven by India's obligation as an SCO member and a strategic need for situational awareness, especially concerning Pakistan's potential actions under its SCO presidency. India faces a diplomatic tightrope, balancing engagement with Pakistan and China in multilateral forums amidst bilateral tensions and global geopolitical shifts, including the 'Trump factor' and ongoing conflicts. Delhi aims to counter any provocative statements and views the China challenge as more significant, using multilateral contacts to potentially defuse tensions on both fronts.

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