As the host country for this important SCO Foreign Minister’s meeting 2023, India was responsible for leading the way for constructive dialogue and mutual cooperation. Its actions, however, indicated an alarming undercurrent of animosity fueled by the extremist Hindutva ideology prevalent in the country.

As the Foreign Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states gathered for their annual summit, the halls of diplomacy resounded with enthusiasm and anticipation. The stage was set for dialogue, constructive discussions, collaboration, and the pursuit of shared objectives amid the evolving regional and global challenges. However, as the events progressed, a cloud of hatred emanating from India descended over the summit, leaving an indelible mark on the event. The diplomatic platform essentially set up to foster regional cooperation and address regional challenges witnessed a turn of events owing to the hostile and antagonistic approach adopted by the host nation. Without considering the underlying principles of SCO and the diplomatic norms, the Indian Foreign Minister blatantly targeted and maligned Pakistan. 
As a forum for member states to discuss regional issues, enhance economic cooperation, and promote stability, the SCO was established based on mutual trust, respect, and equality. However, India's behavior towards Pakistan's foreign minister violated these core norms, undermining the cooperative spirit that the organization aspires to uphold. As the host country for this important SCO Foreign Minister’s meeting 2023, India was responsible for leading the way for constructive dialogue and mutual cooperation. Its actions, however, indicated an alarming undercurrent of animosity fueled by the extremist Hindutva ideology prevalent in the country which has gained momentum after the rise of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to power. 

The diplomatic platform essentially set up to foster regional cooperation and address regional challenges witnessed a turn of events owing to the hostile and antagonistic approach adopted by the host nation. 

Unveiling the Roots of Hindutva: The Ascendancy under the BJP Government
The roots of Hindutva stem from the writings of Indian politician, V. D. Savarkar, who explicitly defined Hindu nationalism in his book titled, Hindutva: Who Is a Hindu? in the1920s. Hindu nationalists contend that because Hindus are the "true sons of the soil" and are therefore superior to all. They support measures aimed at transforming India into a purely Hindu nation. They also view the partition of India and the creation of Pakistan as the pinnacle of Muslim treachery, which in reality is a sovereign state for Muslims to live independently under the constitutional rights of equality, justice and freedom for all the citizens unlike in India. Unfortunately, the current government in India is increasingly dominated by Hindu nationalists. Therefore, since Modi was elected in 2014 and then re-elected in 2019 on the basis of Hindutva campaign of religious hatred towards minorities especially the Muslims, the BJP government has promoted aggressive measures that critics claim is meant to deny millions of Muslims their fundamental rights.1

RSS is vital in the cultural indoctrination and reification of Hindu nationalist sentiments, explicitly targeting the young population within its membership.

BJP, founded in 1980, has its roots in the political wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), an extremist Hindu organization promoting Hindu nationalism. According to its founders, Hindu culture is the nation's "life-breath." RSS leaders like  Golwalkar, a staunch supporter of Nazi Germany, claimed that Muslim culture was alien to the Indian region. RSS is vital in the cultural indoctrination and reification of Hindu nationalist sentiments, explicitly targeting the young population within its membership. Hedgewar has written the "Vision and Mission" of RSS as, ‘The Hindu culture is the life-breath of Hindustan. It is therefore clear that if Hindustan is to be protected, we should first nourish the Hindu culture.’ This categorically indicates the objectives of RSS leaders to erase non-Hindu elements from the country.

Hindutva ideology in India has significantly impacted regional stability and contributed to a severe rise in Islamophobia.

BJP won the elections by inciting violence and promoting extreme objectives of abolishing Kashmir's special status, which is still a disputed territory, and establishing a standard civil code so that all people would be subject to the same rules and regulations, regardless of the religiocultural differences. Hindutva ideology in India has significantly impacted regional stability and contributed to a severe rise in Islamophobia.2 Hindutva violence incidents in India are an alarming indicator of the detrimental consequences of this violent ideology. A wave of religious discrimination and intolerance against minority communities, notably Muslims, has been driven by Hindutva, which aims to make India a Hindu nation and an aggressive regional hegemon. In order to present Muslims as a threat to the Hindu majority, this ideology promotes a false and biased narrative of “us versus them”. A climate of fear and hate has been cultivated due to this discrimination against Muslims.3
From the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) to the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and abrogating the special status of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), the BJP government has left no stone unturned in discriminating against the Muslim population in India. Islamophobia has become a prevalent norm in contemporary India.4
Confronting the Hostile Indian Diplomacy: Upholding the Principles of Mutual Respect and Cooperation
During the SCO summit, Pakistan's Foreign Minister met India's antagonistic behavior with impressive professionalism and composure, highlighting the stark contrast between the two countries' attitudes toward maintaining regional stability. While India’s Minister of External Affairs, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, resorted to baseless accusations and inflammatory rhetoric, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister emphasized the value of collaboration and respect among the member states. This hostile response by India speaks volumes about the country’s aggressive stance, driven by the Hindutva ideology, as opposed to Pakistan's consistent efforts to maintain peace and stability in the region. It violates the SCO's fundamental principles of cooperation, respect, and diplomacy. 

While India’s Minister of External Affairs, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, resorted to baseless accusations and inflammatory rhetoric, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister emphasized the value of collaboration and respect among the member states.

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister made an important statement urging the member states to avoid using "terrorism" as a diplomatic instrument. He also highlighted Pakistan's commitment to fighting terrorism and promoting peace and stability in the region, being the most affected nation in the region so far. Moreover, he rightly pointed out that terrorism is a global challenge that continues to threaten global security and thus requires a collective effort to combat it.
Furthermore, India's claims sharply contrast with Pakistan's ongoing efforts to combat terrorism and promote regional security. Pakistan has made significant progress in the fight against terrorism and has taken a leading role in international efforts to address the issue of terrorism. The international community has praised its proactive actions to tighten border controls and carry out successful counter-terrorism operations.5
Contrarily, the recurrent allegations by India that Pakistan is sponsoring terrorism are not backed by credible evidence and have been widely refuted. These fabrications are used to divert focus from India’s internal issues and fuel enmity. Pakistan's composed response demonstrates its dedication to upholding stability and promoting friendly relations in the region.
True statesmanship is demonstrated in dealing with challenging events diplomatically with dignity, sophistication, and intellectual acuity. In the SCO meeting, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister displayed these outstanding qualities. His composed demeanor and resilient response, noticeable in the face of an unwelcoming host country, stood out. He skillfully articulated Pakistan's stance to the Indian and international media by highlighting intricacies often overlooked in distorted narratives. He was successful to a great extent in dispelling misconceptions and misinformation regarding Pakistan and highlighting Indian aggression. Pakistan also raised the plight of Kashmiris with precision and intellectual brilliance at the SCO international forum.

Pakistan has made significant progress in the fight against terrorism and has taken a leading role in international efforts to address the issue of terrorism. The international community has praised its proactive actions to tighten border controls and carry out successful counter-terrorism operations. 

Pakistan's objectives in the SCO meeting were successfully achieved. Pakistan sent a message of its commitment to multilateralism and fostering regional peace. Moreover, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister’s meeting with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, on the sidelines of the SCO Summit underscores Pakistan's effective diplomatic outreach. The meeting holds significant importance for Pakistan as discussions on various issues, including bilateral cooperation, have been discussed. 
In a nutshell, Pakistan's visit to the SCO summit went well, which is a testament to the nation's diplomatic skills and capacity to successfully advance its national objectives in the international arena. The country proved its unwavering commitment to preserving the ideals contained in the SCO charter by actively engaging in the deliberations.
Pakistan has successfully reaffirmed its commitment to advancing regional connectivity, economic cooperation, and security coordination by actively participating in the SCO summit being held in a hostile country.
Pakistan's active role in the SCO summit demonstrates its commitment to multilateralism, diplomacy, and constructive engagement. It demonstrates the nation's commitment to collaborating with the regional states in the SCO to address common challenges, improve trade and investment prospects, and promote cultural and social interactions.

The writer is an International Relations scholar with special focus on China, South Asia and the Eurasian Region.
E-mail: menahilafridi97@gmail.com

1.   Amarnath Amarasingam, Sanober Umar, and Shweta Desai, “‘Fight, Die, and If Required Kill’: Hindu Nationalism, Misinformation, and Islamophobia in India,” Religions 13 (April 20, 2022, 380). https://doi.org/10.3390/rel13050380.
2.   Sughra Alam, Muhammad Nawaz Bhatti, and Alam Sher Khan, “Hindutva Under Modi’s Regime: Consequences for Regional and International Security,” Journal of Indian Studies 8, no. 2 (December 2022): 289–320.
3.   Maitland, "India's Muslims: An Increasingly Marginalized Population" (Council on Foreign Relations, July 2022). https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/india-muslims-marginalized-population-bjp-modi.
4.   Somdeep Sen, “Analysis: Islamophobia Is the Norm in Modi’s India,” Al Jazeera, June 2022, https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2022/6/10/analysis-islamophobia-is-the-norm-in-modis-india.
5.   Rashid Ahmad Khan, “Pakistan and China: Cooperation in Counter-Terrorism,” Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad, January 2020, 70–78.