India to Host First SCO Civilisational Dialogue from November 20 to 22, Pakistan Invited

India has invited all 10 member nations of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), including Pakistan, to the first SCO Civilisational Dialogue Forum. It will be held in New Delhi from November 20 to 22, 2026. The forum aims to strengthen cultural ties and mutual understanding among SCO countries.

What Is the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Civilisational Dialogue Forum?

It is a new initiative, and this will be its first edition. The forum is meant to build cultural ties and mutual understanding among SCO members. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced it on October 20, 2026, at the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. He said India will host the first forum and invited all SCO countries to take part.

India First SCO Civilisational Dialogue from November 20 to 22

The forum will take place in New Delhi. At Dushanbe, Singh also made these points:

1. Friendship with Tajikistan: He stressed India’s long-standing friendship with Tajikistan and its close bond with Central Asian countries.
2. 25 years of SCO: Leaders reviewed the group’s journey at the Bishkek Summit and discussed its future.
3. Modi’s call: He recalled PM Modi’s appeal for concrete steps to strengthen security, connectivity and opportunities in the SCO region.
4. Terrorism: He asked for a collective approach with no double standards. He said those who finance, support or shelter terrorists have no place, and that the whole ecosystem of terrorism must be dismantled.

India Has Invited All 10 SCO Member Nations Including Pakistan

The 10 members are Belarus, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

• India’s membership: India became a full member in 2017.
• Observers: Afghanistan and Mongolia.
• Dialogue partners: 15.

Why Is Pakistan’s Role Important?

Pakistan took over the rotating chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State for 2026-2027 on September 1, 2026, from Kyrgyzstan after the Bishkek summit. Its Deputy Prime Minister, Ishaq Dar, was present at the Dushanbe meeting, where Singh made the invitation.