Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. File.
| Photo Credit: AP
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on Wednesday (September 30, 2026) reaffirmed his country’s commitment to an open, inclusive and constructive Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Chairmanship, guided by the ‘Shanghai Spirit’ of mutual trust and mutual benefit.
Mr. Dar, who is also the Foreign Minister, made the comments while addressing the National Coordinators of the SCO Member States, along with senior representatives of the SCO Secretariat and SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) in Islamabad.
The SCO member states include Russia, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Belarus and China.
Pakistan’s National Coordinator Mohammad Faisal chaired the three-day deliberations, aimed at firming up cooperation, coordination, and preparations for the SCO Heads of State summit scheduled to be held in Pakistan in August 2027.
The Indian delegation was led by its National Coordinator Alok Dimri.
The Foreign Office said that Mr. Dar welcomed the National Coordinators to the first meeting of the Council of National Coordinators under Pakistan’s Chairmanship.
He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to an open, inclusive, and constructive Chairmanship, guided by the ‘Shanghai Spirit’ of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, and common development, it said.
Mr. Dar underlined the theme of Pakistan’s Chairmanship, ‘Turning Vision into Action: Connectivity, Innovation, and Shared Prosperity’.
He “stressed the need to translate the SCO’s shared vision into practical cooperation and tangible outcomes.”
Mr. Dar also highlighted preparations to host the SCO summit in Islamabad in 2027, and called for close coordination among Member States to ensure a successful Chairmanship.
The Indian delegation has been visiting Islamabad for the meeting, which is the first such visit after last year’s brief conflict.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar led India’s delegation to Islamabad on October 15-16, 2024, for the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting.
Earlier, the Pakistani Foreign Minister said in a statement that the meeting from September 28 to 30 will discuss a “wide range of issues relating to SCO cooperation and coordination”, including the “programme of activities under Pakistan’s Chairmanship”, preparations for upcoming SCO meetings and events, and other matters on the organisation’s agenda.
Published – September 30, 2026 09:03 pm IST
