CRICKET is a game Dr Jaishankar is very fond of ::: The gentleman's game figured in talks between India, Pakistan foreign ministers

External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar had "casual conversations" with both Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar during his stay in Islamabad.

Reports also claim Dr Jaishankar spoke to his Pakistani counterpart twice in less than 24 hours. 

Indian government sources described the exchanges as informal but Pakistani side called one such exchange as a 'brief pull-aside' chats between Dar and the Indian Foreign Minister.

One interaction was for about seven minutes at a dinner hosted by Pakistani PM Sharif.

Importantly, Pakistan’s Interior Minister, Mohsin Naqvi, who also heads the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), was part of these interactions suggesting the idea of resuming bilateral cricket ties as a potential icebreaker between the two nations.

Naqvi even called the chit chat as an "ice-breaker."

A bilateral cricket series before the 50-over multinational ICC event is on cards. Pakistan is keen so that the Indian side visit Pakistan.

Of course the talks - albeit informal and casual - took place on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting of Council of Heads of Government.

The diplomatic and cricket ties between the two countries have remained frozen for years.

The Champions Trophy is to be hosted by Pakistan next February. 

Pakistan foreign ministry has said earlier: "We hope that India will try to take steps to bring a situation to create a condition for peace and dialogue in the region"

Before his departure for Islamabad to attend the SCO Summit which Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave it a miss - Dr Jaishankar had said: "I am going there to be a good member of the SCO. But, you know, since I am a courteous and civil person, I will behave myself, accordingly".

However, in the UNGA, giving his 'National Statement', Dr Jaishankar had blasted Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif's statement particularly for comparing the situation in Kashmir to that of Palestine.

"We heard some bizarre assertions from this very forum (UNGA) yesterday. Let me make India's position very clear. Pakistan's policy of cross-border terrorism will never succeed.  And it can have no expectation of impunity. On the contrary, actions will certainly have consequences", Jaishankar had said.

On the sidelines of SCO Summit at the lunch hosted by Sharif, they were not supposed to be seated together at the lunch for leaders, but instructions went out to the Pakistan protocol to ensure that Jaishankar and Dar were next to each other.

It may be mentioned that during his visit to Goa in 2023 for the SCO Foreign Ministers' meet, Dr Jaishankar had targeted his Pakistani counterpart Bilawal Bhutto Zardari a spokesperson for the terrorism industry. 

Prior to that Bhutto Zardari had raised Jammu and Kashmir and Article 370 -- which actually led Dr Jaishankar take such a tough stance.

But at the SCO Summit in October 2024, Islamabad was cautious and hence there were no provocative statements by the Pakistani side.

In fact, Pakistan's Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal even endorsed the path of parleys cherished under the leadership of Vajpayee-Nawaz Sharif era and said the Lahore Declaration should be followed, 

Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said they were meeting for a multilateral event as part of reciprocity, and the Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Jaishankar was a “guest of Pakistan”.

Jaishankar too followed the script and maintained the civil courtesy.

He tweeted thanking the Government of Pakistan for the hospitality and courtesies.

If Indian cricket team goes to Pakistan for Feb 2025 Champions Trophy, it will be the team’s first visit across the border in 17 years. 

But the bilateral series may not be easy as both sides have otherwise busy calendars. 

Pakistani Foreign Minister Dar is an important and influential player in Pakistan’s current establishment. 

He has been a trusted colleague of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the patriarch of the Sharif family and elder brother of PM Shehbaz. Dar’s eldest son is married to Nawaz Sharif’s daughter Asma Nawaz. 

The PCB has given the BCCI various options regarding the itinerary for the first visit of their cricketers across the border in 17 years.

While the PCB had decided to schedule all three league games involving India in Lahore, the broadcasters wanted them to also play at other venues. Considering this request, the PCB floated the idea of having a game in Rawalpindi. 

The PCB communication to the BCCI also stated that Lahore was earmarked as the venue because this would allow India to travel home after every game if the side so wished, says a report in 'Indian Express'. 

For India at the end of the New Zealand Test series this month, India travels to South Africa and Australia. After their return in January, they host England before the Champions Trophy.

Pakistan is more than keen to host the ICC Champions Trophy in Feb 2025.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is reportedly considering three options: holding the tournament in Pakistan as scheduled, employing a hybrid model that splits matches between Pakistan and the UAE, or relocating the entire tournament outside of Pakistan.

Dubai, Sri Lanka and South Africa are being considered as potential alternative venues.

ends 

Nawaz Sharif and Vajpayee: 1999 - Lahore