Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president Nawaz Sharif expressed on Thursday that the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, attended by India’s foreign minister during a rare visit, could mark the beginning of improved relations between India and Pakistan.

Sharif made this statement during a meeting with a delegation of Indian journalists who traveled to Pakistan to cover the recently concluded SCO meeting, which featured leaders from ten countries.

The meeting was also attended by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and senior minister Marriyum Aurangzeb.

Emphasizing the importance of reviving cricket diplomacy, Nawaz suggested that the Indian cricket team should visit Pakistan for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

“If you ask the Indian cricket team, they would support playing in Pakistan. Despite their willingness, those in power often deny them permission,” he remarked.

Nawaz noted that while it would have been ideal for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the SCO conference in Pakistan, the presence of the Indian foreign minister was still a positive sign. Jaishankar was the first Indian foreign minister to visit Pakistan in nearly a decade, and upon leaving Islamabad, he expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar for their hospitality.

During his interaction with the journalists, Nawaz acknowledged the bitter history between the two nations but stressed the importance of looking ahead and discussing future collaborations. He highlighted urgent issues, such as climate change and bilateral trade, that require immediate attention from both Islamabad and New Delhi.

Addressing the longstanding suspension of trade ties, he pointed out that the cost of Indian goods and vegetables has risen in Pakistan due to their indirect arrival via Dubai.

“Improving Pakistan-India relations could enable essential commodities to reach Pakistan in just two hours,” he added.