New Delhi: Pakistan foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Thursday, May 4 landed in Goa to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting, marking the first trip by the nation’s foreign minister to India since 2011.Speaking to Pakistani state media on arrival, Bhutto Zardari said that he was “happy” to be in Goa and hoped for a “successful” meeting of the SCO foreign ministers on Friday, May 5.The last time that a foreign minister travelled to India was Hina Rabbani Khar in 2011. After that, then Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif attended Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony in 2014. Two years later, Sharif’s foreign affairs advisor, Sartaj Aziz, attended the Heart of Asia ministerial conference on Afghanistan in Amritsar.Due to his long absence, all eyes will be on Bhutto Zardari’s attendance at the dinner expected to be hosted by external affairs minister S. Jaishankar.Before leaving Pakistan, the foreign minister posted a clip on his Twitter account, saying he looked forward to “engaging bilaterally” with his SCO counterparts.On my way to Goa, India. Will be leading the Pakistan delegation at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization CFM. My decision to attend this meeting illustrates Pakistan’s strong commitment to the charter of SCO.During my visit, which is focused exclusively on the SCO, I look… pic.twitter.com/cChUWj9okR— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) May 4, 2023“During my visit, which is focused exclusively on the SCO, I look forward to constructive discussions with my counterparts from friendly countries,” he said.Pakistani foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in Goa, on May 4, Thursday, for the SCO meeting. Photo: Pakistan Foreign OfficeBoth the Indian and Pakistani sides have played down the possibility of any bilateral meeting between the two ministers. In an interview with Geo News on April 30, Pakistan minister of state for foreign affairs, Hina Rabbani Khar, said that neither side had asked for a bilateral meeting till then.In another video, Bilawal said that his schedule on Thursday included bilateral meetings with the Russian and Uzbek foreign ministers, followed by an official dinner and a couple of media interviews.Salaam, from Goa India. #PakatSCO pic.twitter.com/ZwBqqASHS7— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) May 4, 2023Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that Pakistan’s decision to attend the SCO meeting reflected the country’s commitment to the organisation’s charter and multilateralism.Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also underlined that Bhutto Zardari’s trip was a demonstration of the importance given by Islamabad to the SCO grouping. “We are committed to playing our part to advance our shared values of peace & stability in the region. We are all for win-win understandings based on connectivity, trade and mutually advantageous cooperation,” he posted on Twitter.Pakistan’s decision to attend SCO Council of Foreign Minister’s meeting in India reflects our commitment to the SCO Charter & multilateralism. We are committed to playing our part to advance our shared values of peace & stability in the region. We are all for win win…— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) May 4, 2023On arrival in Goa by a special flight, Bhutto Zardari was greeted by MEA’s chief of protocol, Anshuman Gaur, and senior Pakistani diplomats. At the airport, he was welcomed by MEA’s joint secretary for Pakistan, J.P. Singh.The leaders of the principal opposition party in Pakistan, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI), spoke in differing voices on the visit.Former information minister and PTI leader, Fawad Chaudhry, said that Pakistan could have participated through a video link.Strongly condemn FM visit of Goa, participation would have been possible on video but problem is you people in love of Modi are ready to disregard atrocities committed by Modi Janta in Kashmir and hardships Muslims of India and minorities to make Modi Janta happy. Pak Foreign… https://t.co/TTdhVhgZAs— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) May 4, 2023Accusing the Pakistan government of appeasing the Modi government, he said that the foreign minister’s visit meant that the “atrocities” in Kashmir and minorities in India have been disregarded.Another PTI leader Shireen Mazari said the foreign minister was desperate to go to Goa to “show his loyalty to Bajwa plan of appeasing US on Israel and India”. She was referring to the former Army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa, who had wanted to improve trade ties with India and keep the Kashmir dispute in abeyance. “Despite insult by India of refusal to arrange bilateral meetings, he’s desperate to go!” she claimed.As I had pointed out earlier, Imported FM desperate to go to Goa to show his loyalty to Bajwa Plan of appeasing US on Israel & India. He again missed mtg on Afgh bec no photo ops there! Despite insult by India of refusal to arrange bilateral mtgs, he’s desperate to go!… pic.twitter.com/tdkLtn4yVj— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) May 4, 2023However, PTI leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who had been foreign minister in the Imran Khan government, said that the SCO was an important forum and Bhutto Zardari’s visit was necessary.“Pakistan is a member of the SCO and the SCO is an important forum. If we want Eurasian political, economic and security integration then this is an important forum,” he told reporters, as per Dawn.He said Pakistan should make use of the forum to improve the region. “So if he (Bilawal) has gone for a multilateral forum, in my eyes there is no harm,” he said.