Pakistan security dialogue cancelled after Indian activists' visas were revoked

The Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS) announced the cancellation of its Pakistan Security Dialogue 2026, which had been scheduled for September 20-21 at the Serena Hotel in Islamabad. The decision followed the revocation of visas for most foreign delegates, including two Indian activists, Om Parkash Shah and Sudheendra Kulkarni, who have previously engaged in cross-border peace efforts. PIPS had followed standard procedures, coordinating with the Secretary Interior and Secretary Foreign Affairs, and later offered one Indian participant a virtual appearance.

However, a communication from an individual claiming to represent the Ministry of Defence asked that Indian names be removed from the agenda, leading to the removal of the virtual slot. Consequently, no Indian representatives attended, and PIPS stated that their absence was not the cause of the event’s cancellation. The dialogue, backed by the European Union, the Norwegian embassy and the Peace Research Institute Oslo, was intended to coincide with the International Day of Peace, underscoring PIPS’s commitment to dialogue despite strained India-Pakistan relations.