Dar reaffirms Pakistan’s commitment to SCO objectives in meeting with secretary general

ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Secretary General Nurlan Yermekbayev on Wednesday and reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to advancing the bloc’s objectives, according to the Foreign Office.

In a post on X, the Foreign Office said Dar received Yermekbayev and the two sides held what it described as a productive discussion on SCO priorities and on ways to deepen cooperation among member states in key sectors, including the economy, transport and connectivity.

The Foreign Office said the two also exchanged views on regional and international developments. It added that the SCO secretary general appreciated Pakistan’s constructive role in promoting regional peace, stability and cooperation.

According to the Foreign Office, Yermekbayev shared his views and proposals for improving the SCO’s effectiveness and efficiency. He also briefed Dar on preparations for the upcoming SCO Council of Foreign Ministers Meeting in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

The Foreign Office said Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s strong commitment to the SCO’s objectives. It added that he expressed Pakistan’s readiness to work closely with all member states before the country assumes the chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State in September and hosts the SCO summit in 2027.

SCO’s evolving role

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation was initially established in 2001 as a security cooperation grouping, but has since developed into a regional forum that also focuses on trade and economic cooperation.

The SCO currently has 10 member states: India, Iran, China, Pakistan, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Afghanistan and Mongolia hold observer status in the organisation.

In June, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the Shanghai spirit and called for a joint strategy among SCO member states to tackle terrorism, organised crime, drug trafficking, cybercrime and terror financing.