Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s visit to India will be the first visit by any Pakistani Foreign Minister since Hina Rabbani Khar in 2011. India took over the chairmanship of the nine-member mega grouping in September last year and will be holding key ministerial meetings and summits this year.
Relations between the two countries have been strained for many years with regard to issues of cross-border terrorism from Pakistan, even as Islamabad has been seeking the restoration of Article 370 for the former Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir for any talks.
While the visit may bring the desired changes in the bilateral relationship, it may still be seen as an ice breaking move. If Bilawal can impress his counterparts in India, it is likely that PM Shebaz Sharif will also visit India for the 2023 G-20 Summit in Delhi in September. This could allow the two neighbours to initiate talks on a matter of outstanding issues
