From The Indian Express · Divya A · · 2m
SCO forum to showcase India's 5,000-year history
India hosts inaugural Civilisational Dialogue Forum in New Delhi from November 20 to 22, with 15 countries confirmed and Pakistan's participation still uncertain.
In brief
India hosts inaugural Civilisational Dialogue Forum in New Delhi from November 20 to 22, with 15 countries confirmed and Pakistan's participation still uncertain. India is hosting the inaugural SCO Civilisational Dialogue Forum from November 20 to 22 with fifteen confirmed countries, while awaiting Pakistan's response…
Forum dates and inaugural speaker
The inaugural SCO Civilisational Dialogue Forum will be held between November 20 and 22 in New Delhi, to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Fifteen countries have confirmed
China, Kazakhstan, Iran, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Bahrain, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Sri Lanka have confirmed participation. Two more countries are among the fifteen confirmations.
Pakistan's status remains unclear
With just a week to go, there has been no word from Islamabad on its participation, even as fifteen of the twenty-five invited countries have confirmed.
Forum venue and purpose
The three-day event will be held at the Purana Qila monument, where delegates will be shown India's five thousand year civilisational history through excavated sites and the Capital's historical layers.
Shekhawat on Pakistan's history
Union Culture Minister Gajendra Shekhawat said Pakistan should be self-aware that it did not exist during the Indus Valley Civilisation. Their story is just eighty years old, he stated.
“When a country tries to talk about 5,000 years of Indus Valley Civilisation, they should be self-aware that they didn't exist at the time. Their story is just 80 years old.”
Pakistan minister invited despite tensions
India has invited Pakistan's national heritage and Culture Minister Aurangzeb Khan Khichi for the event, the first such invitation to a senior Pakistani minister since military hostilities in May 2025.
Four themed sessions planned
The Prime Minister will attend the inaugural ceremony on November 20. Four key sessions will follow, themed around civilisational and cultural expression, art and architecture, and language, literature and manuscripts.
Shekhawat remains hopeful on Pakistan
Shekhawat said he remained hopeful that Pakistan would confirm participation in coming days. Pakistan's civilisation and cultural development is no different from India's, he noted.
“Pakistan's civilisation and cultural development is no different from ours. It has been less than 80 years since they separated from us; otherwise, their evolution happened alongside ours.”
UNESCO nominations and future editions
SCO countries will deliberate on filing joint nominations for UNESCO heritage lists owing to their cultural exchanges over centuries. The first edition will chart a roadmap for upcoming editions.
What matters most
India is hosting the inaugural SCO Civilisational Dialogue Forum from November 20 to 22 with fifteen confirmed countries, while awaiting Pakistan's response to its invitation.
