Hina Rabbani Khar was the last Pakistan foreign minister of state to come to India in July 2011

New Delhi: Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will attend the the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Goa on May 4 and 5. This was announced by Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mumtaz Baloch Thursday.

India’s invitation to the Pakistan Foreign minister is significant, given the state of bilateral relations which is at an all-time low at the moment. Hina Rabbani Khar was the last Pakistan foreign minister to come to India in July 2011.

In January this year, The Indian Express had first reported on New Delhi’s invitation to Islamabadto attend the SCO Foreign Ministers’ meeting.

Announcing the Pakistan Foreign Minister’s participation in the meeting in India, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson said its “participation in the meeting reflects Pakistan’s commitment to the SCO charter and processes, and the importance that Pakistan accords to the region in its foreign policy priorities.”

The invitation from External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had been sent through the Indian High Commission in Islamabad for Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to come to Goa in the first week of May for the SCO Foreign Ministers’ meeting.