BY: ANI Correspondent:
ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar represented Pakistan at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) Meeting held in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyz Republic, from 23–24 July 2026, where he reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to regional peace, connectivity and economic cooperation.
Upon his arrival in Cholpon-Ata, Senator Dar was received by Kyrgyz Deputy Foreign Minister Kairat Erkinovich Tursunkulov, senior officials of the Kyrgyz Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic Altamash Wazir Khan, and Pakistan’s National Coordinator for the SCO, Dr Mohammad Faisal.
The Deputy Prime Minister attended an informal dinner hosted by Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Zheenbek Moldokanovich Kulubaev at the Cultural Center “Nomad” in honour of the visiting dignitaries. He also joined other Heads of Delegation in a meeting with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Nurgozhoevich Zhaparov at the Presidential State Residence, where he conveyed the greetings of Pakistan’s leadership and expressed Islamabad’s desire to further strengthen bilateral cooperation with Kyrgyzstan across multiple sectors.
Leading Pakistan’s delegation at the SCO CFM Meeting, Senator Dar delivered Pakistan’s national statement, reiterating the country’s unwavering commitment to the SCO Charter and the “Shanghai Spirit” based on mutual trust, mutual respect, shared prosperity and development. He cautioned against confrontational geopolitics and the use of aggression as an instrument of policy, while emphasizing the need for dialogue, cooperation and peaceful coexistence.
Highlighting Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts for regional peace, the Deputy Prime Minister referred to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at promoting peace in the Middle East. He stressed the importance of expanding regional connectivity, transport networks, poverty alleviation initiatives and practical cooperation among SCO member states to achieve the organisation’s shared objectives. He also underscored the significance of the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as a major contributor to regional connectivity and economic integration in line with the SCO’s vision.
Senator Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s readiness to assume the Chair of the SCO Council of Heads of State (CHS) in September this year and announced that Pakistan would host the SCO CHS Summit in 2027. He extended a formal invitation to all SCO member states to participate in the summit in Pakistan next year.
During the visit, the Deputy Prime Minister also attended the official reception hosted by Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Kulubaev for the foreign ministers of SCO member states.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Senator Dar held extensive bilateral discussions with several counterparts, including Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Kazakhstan’s Yermek Kosherbayev, Belarus’ Maxim Ryzhenkov, Tajikistan’s Sirojiddin Muhriddin and Uzbekistan’s Bakhtiyor Saidov. The meetings focused on strengthening bilateral relations, enhancing regional cooperation and exchanging views on key regional and international developments.
The visit reaffirmed Pakistan’s historic ties with SCO member states and highlighted its commitment to assuming the SCO Chairmanship for 2026–27. Pakistan also reiterated its determination to promote the organisation’s agenda of socio-economic cooperation, regional connectivity and shared prosperity, while working to make SCO mechanisms more effective in addressing common regional challenges and advancing sustainable economic growth.
