Dar showcases Pakistan's SCO vision, invites member states to Islamabad Summit 2027

ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar concluded a two-day visit to Kyrgyzstan by reaffirming Pakistan's commitment to advancing regional cooperation through the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and highlighting Islamabad's readiness to assume the organisation's chairmanship for 2026-27.

According to the Foreign Office, Dar's participation in the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) meeting, held in Cholpon-Ata from July 23 to 24, provided an opportunity to reinforce Pakistan's historic ties with SCO member states and promote an agenda focused on regional connectivity, economic integration and shared prosperity.

The Foreign Office spokesperson said Dar utilised both formal sessions and informal engagements with his counterparts to outline Pakistan's priorities for making SCO mechanisms more effective in promoting socio-economic cooperation and regional development.

On the sidelines of the ministerial meeting, the deputy prime minister held extensive bilateral discussions with the foreign ministers of China, Iran, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, exchanging views on bilateral relations, regional developments and multilateral cooperation.

During the visit, Dar also attended an informal dinner hosted by Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Zheenbek Moldokanovich Kulubaev in honour of the visiting delegations and later called on Kyrgyz President Sadyr Nurgozhoevich Zhaparov alongside other SCO foreign ministers.

Conveying the greetings of Pakistan's leadership, Dar reaffirmed Islamabad's desire to further strengthen bilateral cooperation with Kyrgyzstan across diverse sectors.

Leading Pakistan's delegation at the SCO-CFM meeting, Dar reiterated the country's unwavering commitment to the SCO Charter and the "Shanghai Spirit" of mutual trust, respect, shared prosperity and development. He cautioned against confrontational geopolitics and the use of aggression as an instrument of state policy, stressing that dialogue and cooperation remained the only sustainable path to regional peace.

Highlighting Pakistan's diplomatic efforts in the Middle East, Dar referred to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, describing it as a significant initiative aimed at promoting peace and stability in the region.

He also underscored the importance of expanding regional connectivity, transport networks, poverty alleviation and practical cooperation among SCO member states. In this context, he described the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as a flagship project that complements the SCO's broader vision of regional connectivity and economic integration.

The deputy prime minister reaffirmed Pakistan's readiness to assume the chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State (CHS) in September and formally invited all member states to attend the SCO Heads of State Summit, which Pakistan will host in 2027.

Dar also attended the official reception hosted by Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Kulubaev in honour of the participating foreign ministers, concluding a visit that the Foreign Office described as an important step in strengthening Pakistan's engagement with the SCO and advancing its regional diplomatic agenda.

Dar, Tajik FM reaffirm longstanding brotherly ties between two countries 

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and his Tajikistan coungterpart Sirojiddin Muhriddin, Saturday, reaffirmed the longstanding, brotherly and close ties between Pakistan and Tajikistan.

They also expressed their shared commitment to further expanding cooperation in trade, investment, connectivity, energy, culture, and people-to-people exchanges.

The DPM/FM met with the Tajik foreign minister on the sidelines of the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan, the Foreign Office Spokesperson said in a press release.

They underscored the importance of sustained high-level exchanges to further strengthen the bilateral partnership.

Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin reaffirmed Tajikistan’s support for Pakistan’s continued efforts to promote peace, stability, and the peaceful resolution of regional issues.

The two leaders also exchanged views on regional and global developments and emphasized the importance of cooperation at multilateral forums to advance peace, stability, and prosperity.