SCO Civilisational Dialogue Forum: India hosts prep talks, Modi to inaugurate Nov 20
Synopsis
India is hosting the SCO's first-ever Civilisational Dialogue Forum — an initiative Modi himself proposed at Tianjin in 2025 — at the 16th-century Purana Quila in New Delhi from 20–22 November 2026. With all 10 SCO members invited, including Pakistan, and Modi set to inaugurate, this is as much a soft-power statement as a multilateral cultural event.
Key Takeaways
India's MEA hosted SCO ambassadors and high commissioners on 29 October 2026 to prepare for the SCO Civilisational Dialogue Forum .
The forum is scheduled for 20–22 November 2026 at Purana Quila, New Delhi , with 25+ countries expected.
PM Narendra Modi is expected to inaugurate the three-day event.
India has invited all 10 SCO member states , including Pakistan , along with 15 dialogue partners and one observer.
Pakistan's Minister for National Heritage and Culture, Aurungzeb Khan Khichi , has reportedly been invited.
The forum was proposed by Modi at the SCO Leaders' Summit in Tianjin in 2025 and is the first of its kind.
India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday, 29 October 2026 convened a luncheon reception in New Delhi for resident ambassadors and high commissioners of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states and partner countries, as New Delhi steps up preparations for the landmark SCO Civilisational Dialogue Forum scheduled for 20–22 November 2026. The gathering, hosted by Secretary (West) Sibi George, centred on deepening cultural and civilisational cooperation within the SCO framework ahead of the three-day multilateral event.
What Was Discussed
Talks at the reception focused on strengthening cooperation within the SCO's cultural and civilisational architecture and on finalising the organisational groundwork for the upcoming forum. The MEA said the interaction 'underscored India's commitment to strengthening longstanding civilisational connections and people-to-people ties with the SCO region.' The Ministry of Culture is co-organising the event alongside the MEA, signalling a whole-of-government approach to cultural diplomacy.
India Invites All SCO Members, Including Pakistan
On Wednesday, 28 October, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that India has extended invitations to all SCO member states, dialogue partners, and one observer country. When specifically asked about Pakistan's inclusion, Jaiswal said: 'As per established practice, we have invited all SCO members. We have also invited dialogue partners and one observer to the SCO. They have been invited for the forum, Civilisational Dialogue Forum meeting, which will be held in New Delhi on 20th to 22nd of November, 2026.' Diplomatic sources earlier confirmed that Pakistan's Minister for National Heritage and Culture, Aurungzeb Khan Khichi, has been invited for the event — a notable diplomatic signal given the fraught state of India-Pakistan ties.
PM Modi to Inaugurate at Purana Quila
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to inaugurate the forum at Purana Quila, the historic 16th-century fort in central New Delhi. The venue choice is deliberate: it places a major multilateral cultural event against a backdrop that embodies India's civilisational depth. Representatives from more than 25 countries are expected to attend, making it one of the larger SCO-format gatherings hosted by India in recent years.
Origins of the Initiative
The SCO Civilisational Dialogue Forum was proposed by Prime Minister Modi at the SCO Leaders' Summit held in Tianjin, China in 2025, and was subsequently adopted by the grouping. This is the first edition of the forum, cementing India's role as a driver of the cultural diplomacy agenda within the SCO. The discussions at the forum are expected to cover civilisational linkages, cultural diplomacy, and collaborative initiatives in heritage, education, and traditional knowledge systems.
The SCO in Context
The SCO currently comprises 10 member states — Belarus, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan — along with 15 dialogue partners and two observer states (Afghanistan and Mongolia). For India, which has navigated complex relationships within the grouping — particularly with China and Pakistan — the Civilisational Dialogue Forum offers a platform where New Delhi holds a structural advantage: heritage and cultural soft power. The forum is expected to conclude on 22 November 2026, with outcomes likely shaping the SCO's cultural cooperation roadmap for the next cycle.
Point of View
No less — lets New Delhi set the agenda and the aesthetics. The Pakistan invitation, framed as 'established practice', is quietly consequential: it keeps a diplomatic channel open without requiring bilateral concessions. What to watch is whether the forum produces anything beyond symbolic declarations, or whether it becomes the SCO's version of a high-production-value event that changes little on the ground.
NationPress
29 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the SCO Civilisational Dialogue Forum?
The SCO Civilisational Dialogue Forum is a new multilateral platform within the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation focused on cultural diplomacy, civilisational linkages, heritage, education, and traditional knowledge systems. It was proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the SCO Leaders' Summit in Tianjin in 2025 and adopted by the grouping; India is hosting the inaugural edition in New Delhi from 20 to 22 November 2026.
Where and when is the SCO Civilisational Dialogue Forum being held?
The forum will be held at Purana Quila, the historic 16th-century fort in New Delhi, from 20 to 22 November 2026. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to inaugurate the event.
Has India invited Pakistan to the SCO Civilisational Dialogue Forum?
Yes. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that India has invited all SCO member states, including Pakistan, as well as dialogue partners and one observer. Diplomatic sources also confirmed that Pakistan's Minister for National Heritage and Culture, Aurungzeb Khan Khichi, has been specifically invited.
Which countries are part of the SCO?
The SCO currently has 10 member states: Belarus, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. It also has 15 dialogue partners and two observer states, Afghanistan and Mongolia. More than 25 countries are expected at the November forum.
Why is India hosting the SCO Civilisational Dialogue Forum?
India proposed the forum at the 2025 SCO Leaders' Summit in Tianjin and was subsequently designated as the host for its inaugural edition. The event reflects India's emphasis on cultural and civilisational diplomacy within the SCO framework and its effort to project soft power through heritage and people-to-people ties.
