Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday called for a stronger role for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in promoting peace and stability, saying the regional bloc must respond collectively to growing geopolitical tensions and shared challenges Addressing the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State meeting in Bishkek, the prime minister described the gathering as “historic” and said it was an honour for him to participate in the summit.

He thanked Kyrgyz President Sadyr Nurgozhoevich Japarov and his team for their hospitality and arrangements for the summit, while congratulating Kyrgyzstan on successfully completing its SCO chairmanship and contributing to practical cooperation among member states. PM Shehbaz said the SCO had emerged as an important platform for global peace and stability, adding that the completion of the organisation’s 25 years was a significant milestone.

He described Pakistan as an active and responsible member of the SCO and said the international landscape was facing growing geopolitical tensions. “The SCO is a symbol of the collective resolve to address common challenges,” the prime minister said, reiterating Pakistan’s commitment to resolving disputes through peaceful means and upholding international law. He highlighted Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts during recent regional crises, saying the country had played an effective role in advancing peace.

He added that Pakistan’s diplomatic initiatives had contributed to the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, which he described as an important step towards reducing tensions in the region. The prime minister also called for strengthening the multilateral system and urged international institutions to translate their declarations into practical action.

Referring to the situation in Gaza and the West Bank, PM Shehbaz said the humanitarian crisis had caused unimaginable suffering. He called on the international community to respect the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination. He further stressed that South Asia could not achieve its full potential without lasting peace in the region. The prime minister also raised the issue of water, describing it as vital to the region’s survival and the future of coming generations.

He said using water for political purposes or as a tool of pressure was unacceptable and called for full implementation of international agreements in both letter and spirit. Pakistan is set to assume the chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State for 2026-27, with Islamabad scheduled to host the next summit in 2027. The two-day SCO summit has brought together leaders from China, Russia, Iran, India, Türkiye and other member states.

Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Belarus are also part of the regional bloc. On the sidelines of the summit, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held separate meetings with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov. During his meeting with Araghchi, Dar emphasised the importance of dialogue and diplomacy for regional peace and said sincere implementation of the Islamabad MoU remained essential for reducing tensions.

Dar and Wang Yi also reaffirmed the Pakistan-China All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership and discussed matters of mutual interest, including the upcoming United Nations General Assembly session and the election of the next UN secretary-general. Meanwhile, Dar’s meeting with the Belarusian foreign minister focused on bilateral relations, regional developments and other issues of mutual interest.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)