ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – India has declined a possibility of a meeting between Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and his counterpart Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in the capital city of Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan, Indian foreign ministry spokesman Raveesh Kumar told the media.

Both leaders will travel to Kyrgyzstan for attending the SCO meeting next week, however, Kumar stated that no "bilateral meeting" between the two was being planned.

Both India and Pakistan became members of the SCO in 2017, joining the forum founded in 2001 by Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

PM Khan, in April, said that a Modi win at the polls could help settle the Kashmir showdown and his government has repeatedly stated that it is open to dialogue.

Both leaders exchanged warm words following Modi’s re-election last month.