Pakistan Reaffirms Commitment to Peace and Regional Connectivity at Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit: FO

Islamabad: Pakistan’s voice echoed strongly on the global stage this week as Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif used the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) platform in Tianjin to call for peace, regional connectivity, and principled diplomacy. He condemned terrorism in all forms, denounced Israel’s offensive in Gaza, and stressed meaningful engagement with Afghanistan. On the sidelines, the Prime Minister also held high-level meetings with leaders of China, Russia, Türkiye, Iran, Azerbaijan, and Tajikistan to strengthen political, economic, trade, and defense ties.

Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan, in his weekly press briefing on Friday, underlined that Pakistan remains firmly committed to advancing regional peace, economic integration, and multilateral cooperation under the SCO framework.

He said the Prime Minister’s visit to China from August 31 to September 1, undertaken at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, included participation in the SCO Council of Heads of State (CHS) and SCO CHS Plus meetings.

During the summit, the Prime Minister presented Pakistan’s perspectives on pressing regional and global issues, urging structured dialogue to resolve longstanding disputes in South Asia. He condemned state-sponsored terrorism and highlighted foreign involvement in recent incidents, including the Jaffar Express hostage crisis and attacks in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The PM also condemned Israel’s “inhuman” offensive in Gaza and the recent attack on Iran, calling for an immediate ceasefire. He stressed that instability in Afghanistan undermines regional development, while Pakistan’s strategic geography and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) make it a vital hub for SCO trade and integration under the Belt and Road Initiative.

On the sidelines, Shehbaz Sharif congratulated Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on the historic peace deal with Armenia, reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for China’s territorial integrity in his meeting with President Xi, and explored cooperation in emerging sectors with Premier Li Qiang. He also addressed the Pakistan-China B2B Investment Conference, attended by 800 companies, identifying agriculture, mining, IT, textiles, and industry as priority areas.

The FO Spokesperson said the Prime Minister joined world leaders at China’s 80th Victory Day Anniversary Parade, marking World War II’s end.

Highlighting other diplomatic engagements, Shafqat Ali Khan confirmed the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Armenia following a meeting between Deputy PM and FM Senator Ishaq Dar and FM Ararat Mirzoyan. Ishaq Dar also met with the foreign ministers of Germany and the European Union, with discussions centering on climate action, resilience, and Pakistan’s flood recovery.

In science diplomacy, a CERN delegation visited Pakistan from August 24–28 to review its contributions as an Associate Member, meeting officials from PAEC and touring NCP, PIEAS, PINSTECH, INMOL, and NILOP.

Meanwhile, the 14th round of Pakistan-Japan Bilateral Political Consultations took place in Islamabad on September 4, reviewing trade, development, education, and regional security.

On Gaza, Shafqat Ali Khan strongly condemned the Israeli strike on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, which killed 21 people, including four journalists and a rescue worker. He called it a grave violation of international humanitarian law and demanded accountability. He also reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for Syria’s sovereignty and called for preventing further escalation in the region.

“Pakistan’s voice was heard clearly and firmly on the world stage, standing for peace, justice, and shared prosperity,” the FO Spokesperson concluded.