Pakistan will ‘definitely invite’ Modi to SCO summit, confirms Khawaja Asif

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said on August 27 that Pakistan will invite Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Islamabad.

Commenting on the invitation to the Indian Premier, the Defence Minister said, “Yes, certainly there should be no doubt about it.”

Asif said that the host country has no right to choose which country’s head of state to invite, and SCO does not allow such moves.

He said, “Ministry External Affairs (MEA) hasn’t commented on Indian media speculation of Modi refusing to attend the regional summit.”

The SCO is a strategic partner of the United Nations (UN) on political affairs, peace, and security issues.

Commenting on Iran’s final notice to Pakistan on the gas pipeline delay project, Asif remarked, “The project should be completed; it suits Pakistan economically.”

“Iran is our neighbour country, and if we need oil, gas or other mineral resources, then the neighbourly countries are economically beneficial,” he concluded