In an unprecedented move, India refused to let Pakistan attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) seminar on the military’s role in military medicine, healthcare, and pandemics, which was held in New Delhi on Tuesday.
India is currently the president of the SCO and is hosting a series of events. Pakistan was expected to attend the conference of think tanks with the theme “SCO Armed Forces Contribution in Military Medicine, Healthcare and Pandemics” at the official level.
“India has misused its position as the Chair [of the SCO] and acted irresponsibly in denying a sovereign member state the right to participate in an SCO event,” said an official.
According to Indian media that New Delhi took issue with the Pakistani side’s usage of a map displaying Jammu and Kashmir as their territory. The Pakistani side was instructed to present the “proper map” or leave the seminar after the issue was brought to the attention of the Indian external affairs ministry.
According to the Indian media, the Pakistani delegation made the decision to abstain. According to sources in Islamabad, India formally retracted its invitation.
