Pakistan hosts 12th SCO border services meeting in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday presided over the 12th meeting of the Heads of Border Services of the Competent Authorities of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

Senior border officials and representatives from Belarus, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan attended the session. The Executive Committee of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure was also represented at the meeting.

Participants reviewed the situation on the international borders of SCO member states, sharing their assessments as well as views on emerging patterns and likely future developments. The meeting also examined the outcome of the joint border operation Solidarity-2025 and formally endorsed its results.

The participants additionally approved a roadmap for preparing and carrying out the next joint operation, Solidarity-2026. The meeting also backed a proposal for Tajikistan to host the joint border operation in 2027.

Those attending the meeting observed that the deliberations would help deepen coordination among the border services of member countries and improve security and confidence along common frontiers.

On the sidelines, Iran’s border guard commander Brigadier General Ali Akbar Javidan, who headed the Iranian delegation, said Tehran wanted stronger engagement with SCO countries. He said Iran planned to broaden cooperation with member states in several areas, including security coordination, information sharing, and efforts against drug trafficking, organised crime and smuggling.

SCO framework and Pakistan’s role

Originally established in 2001 as a platform centred on security cooperation, the SCO has since expanded into a broader regional forum that also covers trade and economic matters. The organisation’s 10 member states are Belarus, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, while Afghanistan and Mongolia hold observer status.

The meeting comes as Pakistan prepares for a larger role within the bloc. In June, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the Shanghai spirit and called for a collective strategy by SCO member states to tackle terrorism, organised crime, drug trafficking, cybercrime and terror financing.

Pakistan is due to take over the chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State in September this year. The country is also scheduled to host the next Council of Heads of State summit next year.