Bishkek: Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar has said that Pakistan reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the goals and the purposes of SCO. He said that the international community must seize the opportunity provided by the Islamabad MoU and the ongoing technical negotiations to push for a permanent, peaceful and durable settlement of the conflict. He said that TTP terrorists are undertaking attacks against Pakistani security forces and civilians, using Afghan soil, as their base of operations.
This was stated by Ishaq Dar while addressing the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers' Meeting at Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyz Republic on Friday.
Ishaq Dar said 'It is my profound honour to speak at this august gathering, as we celebrate the silver jubilee of our very dear and cherished organization. I would like to convey my heartfelt gratitude for the warm reception and hospitality in the beautiful city of Cholpon-Ata. Let me begin by expressing deepest congratulations to my dear brother, the Foreign Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic, for organizing this meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the SCO member States. I would also like to pay tribute to the vision of President Sadyr Japarov, whose steadfast commitment to Central Asian cooperation has been a defining contribution to SCO's development and progress'.
Ishaq Dar said 'As a founding member of the "Shanghai Five" and subsequently the SCO, Kyrgyzstan has been instrumental in anchoring the "Shanghai Spirit" within the heart of Central Asia and beyond, across the larger SCO family. Kyrgyzstan's leadership role remains a cornerstone of our collective security architecture. Since its establishment in 2001, the SCO has become an anchor for regional cooperation, driving vital progress in peace, security, stability, and economic connectivity, while also simultaneously fostering deep cultural exchanges among member states. While celebrating its 25th anniversary, we underscore the enduring strength of the "Shanghai Spirit". This foundational philosophy continues to guide our collective efforts through mutual trust, equality, cultural respect, shared growth, and constructive diplomacy'.
Ishaq Dar said that the SCO's achievements over the last quarter of a century are indeed remarkable. It has successfully transitioned from a security-centric "Shanghai Five" to a comprehensive entity that integrates security, economy, development, culture, and peace among others. On the economic front, we have seen trade volumes among members growing manifold. Our collaborative framework has been vital in combating the "three evils" of terrorism, separatism, and extremism. We deeply appreciate the role of SCO in promoting respect for international law and good neighborliness.
Ishaq Dar said 'Looking forward to the next 25 years, the SCO must evolve to meet the new and emerging challenges. Our vision, encapsulated in the SCO Development Strategy 2035, must focus on digital inclusivity, bridging the technological divide, and ensuring energy security through projects like the TAPI pipeline and the CASA-1000 regional electricity transmission. We must advance towards financial integration, including the use of national currencies in mutual payments, to build a resilient regional economy, independent of external shocks. Our region is passing through an eventful time. It has always been, and continues to be, Pakistan's desire to see a peaceful, stable, regionally integrated, and prosperous Afghanistan, which is at peace with itself and its neighbours. This is in the best interest of all SCO Members States and beyond. At present, the threat of terrorism emanating from Afghanistan is one of the most serious security challenges for us. Terrorist organizations, including TTP, BLA, ETIM and s imilar other affiliates, continue to recruit, train and operate from Afghan soil, under the watch and facilitation of the Afghan Taliban Regime. The enabling environment provided to terrorist organizations by the Afghan Taliban regime has been well-documented by the UN Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team'.
He said that Pakistan has been at the forefront of this terrorist threat. TTP terrorists are undertaking attacks against Pakistani security forces and civilians, using Afghan soil, as their base of operations. In this year alone, more than 560 innocent Pakistanis have been martyred in over 2,000 terrorist incidents. It is also deeply concerning that Afghan nationals have been found to be involved in these terrorist incidents.
He said that durable peace, stability and economic development can only be achieved with the eradication of the menace of terrorism, emanating from the Afghan soil. We hope that the SCO would call upon the Afghan Taliban Regime to honour its counterterrorism commitments, to the international community and fulfill its responsibilities towards global peace and security.
Ishaq Dar said that Pakistan firmly believes that dialogue, diplomacy and mutual respect provide the only sustainable way forward to resolve conflicts and achieve durable peace and security. He said that
guided by this conviction, Pakistan facilitated and hosted the Islamabad Talks between Iran and the United States on 10-11 April 2026, enabling the first high-level direct diplomatic contacts between the two sides after 47 years. The diplomatic process, thus initiated, culminated in the signing of the Islamabad MoU, in June 2026.
Ishaq Dar said that this historic breakthrough, became possible, as a result of Pakistan's close engagement with the two parties, the United States and Iran, complemented by our intensive diplomatic outreach to regional and international partners. Pakistan deeply appreciates the trust and confidence reposed in it, by both Iran and the US, in undertaking this challenging responsibility, in the larger interest of peace and security.
Ishaq Dar said that it is our considered view that these outstanding issues can only be resolved through sustained dialogue and diplomacy. The international community must seize the opportunity provided by the Islamabad MoU and the ongoing technical negotiations to push for a permanent, peaceful and durable settlement of the conflict.
Ishaq Dar said 'At the same time, we must remain vigilant against those who seek to undermine regional stability. Such actors will exploit every opportunity to derail the peace process and reverse the progress achieved. Only by working together, we can achieve this shared objective of long-term peace, stability and prosperity for the region and beyond'.
He said that Pakistan reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the goals and the purposes of SCO. Pakistan's journey within the SCO, from an observer in 2005, to attaining full membership in 2017, is a testament to our unwavering commitment to multilateralism. Our vision is to transform the SCO region into one of peace and sustainable development where the right to Development is viewed as an integral human right. We view our membership as a strategic partnership for regional transformation. It is exemplified by our successful hosting of the 23rd Meeting of the Council of Heads of Government (CHG), in Islamabad, in October 2024. Also, Pakistan currently steers the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (SCO-RATS), as the Chair for 2025-2026, leading joint efforts to secure our digital and physical borders.
Ishaq Dar said 'we look forward to assuming the Chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of States (CHS) in September this year, inshAllah, and hosting the Summit in Pakistan in 2027. This is a reflection of your trust and confidence in Pakistan's role regionally and globally. Pakistan will continue to advance a forward-looking and action-oriented agenda aimed at enhancing economic collaboration, promoting regional connectivity, and deepening mutual understanding among peoples. Our geostrategic location serves as the natural gateway for Central Asia, to the warm waters of the Arabian Sea. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), stands as a model for trans-regional connectivity, unlocking landlocked Central Asian states, an efficient access to global markets via Gwadar Port. It is a platform for broader regional integration. As Pakistan looks forward to assuming the Chairmanship, we are guided by the conviction that the SCO must deliver tangible dividends to its peoples. We will prioritize connectivity, t rade facilitation, agricultural cooperation, youth development and people-to-people linkages'.
Ishaq Dar said 'We look forward to welcoming all SCO member States to Pakistan for the Council of the Heads of State Summit next year. Before concluding, I greatly appreciate the kind words of my dear friend Foreign Minister Wang Yi and other counterparts for recognising Pakistan's humble efforts for peace and stability in the region and beyond. Finally, I reaffirm Pakistan's commitment to the objectives of SCO Charter. With strong belief in the potential of SCO, we will continue to work as a reliable and humble partner to transform our region into a space of enduring peace and shared prosperity'.