Pakistan is set to assume the chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State for the period of 2026-27, following the signing of a formal declaration in the Kyrgyz capital on Tuesday.
During a ceremony held on the sidelines of the SCO Council of Heads of State meeting in Bishkek, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signed the declaration.
This development signifies Pakistan’s forthcoming leadership within the regional grouping, which unites several significant nations from Asia and Eurasia.
Upon his arrival in Bishkek, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif engaged in discussions with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, emphasizing the necessity of tolerance, dialogue, and diplomatic relations for achieving peace and stability in the region.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation was founded in 2001 by China, Russia, and four Central Asian countries as a security forum.
Currently, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization comprises 10 member states: China, Russia, India, Iran, Pakistan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Additionally, several other nations are affiliated with the organization as “dialogue partners.”