Dar leads Pakistan delegation at SCO meeting in Tajikistan

ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is leading Pakistan’s delegation at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Government meeting in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, scheduled for October 19 and 20.

According to the Foreign Office, Dar is attending the meeting at the invitation of Tajikistan’s Prime Minister Qohir Rasulzoda. The gathering is expected to focus on economic cooperation, trade, regional connectivity and other shared priorities among member states.

The Council of Heads of Government is expected to adopt a joint communiqué, statements and key decisions aimed at strengthening cooperation within the regional bloc.

Prime ministers from Belarus, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan are expected to attend. Iran will be represented by its vice-president, while India’s external affairs minister will represent New Delhi.

The Foreign Office described the council as the SCO’s second-highest decision-making body. It provides guidance on economic and financial matters, trade, commerce, connectivity, socio-economic cooperation and the organisation’s budget.

During his visit, Dar is also expected to meet Tajikistan’s president and prime minister. He is scheduled to hold bilateral discussions with foreign ministers and other counterparts from SCO member states on the sidelines of the meeting.

The meeting comes as Pakistan advances its priorities under its chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State for 2026-27. Islamabad is scheduled to host the organisation’s next summit in 2027.

Pakistan’s chairmanship is guided by the theme, “Turning Vision into Action: Connectivity, Innovation, and Shared Prosperity”. The country has called for greater practical cooperation among member states to strengthen regional trade, transport links and economic development.

At the SCO Council of Heads of State meeting in Bishkek in September, member states adopted the Bishkek Declaration, setting out areas for further cooperation in security, trade and technology. More than 20 additional documents were also signed or adopted, covering transport, energy, digital infrastructure, environmental cooperation and efforts to combat drug trafficking.

Lahore was also designated the SCO’s tourism and cultural capital for 2026-27.

Pakistan previously hosted the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting in Islamabad on October 15 and 16, 2024. That gathering focused on trade, regional connectivity and economic cooperation.

Dar’s visit comes amid continued diplomatic consultations between Pakistan and Iran over regional developments.

On Sunday, Dar held a telephone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi. The two discussed the evolving regional situation and the ongoing Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Baghdad.

According to the Foreign Office, Dar emphasised the importance of dialogue and diplomacy in addressing regional challenges. Both ministers agreed to maintain close contact.

The two officials also met in Bishkek in September on the sidelines of the SCO summit, where they discussed bilateral relations and regional developments.