PM Shehbaz meets Iranian president at SCO summit

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation

BISHKEK: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State meeting in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

The meeting took place shortly after Prime Minister Shehbaz arrived in Kyrgyzstan for a three-day official visit. He is in Bishkek from August 31 to September 2 at the invitation of Kyrgyz President Sadyr Nurgozhoevich Zhaparov.

The two leaders exchanged greetings and held discussions on the sidelines of the SCO summit. The meeting provided an opportunity for Pakistan and Iran to maintain high-level diplomatic engagement during a major regional gathering.

Prime Minister Shehbaz is leading Pakistan’s delegation to the SCO Council of Heads of State meeting. He is also scheduled to participate in the SCO Plus Summit during his stay in Bishkek.

According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Shehbaz will address the SCO summit and present Pakistan’s position on a range of regional and international matters.

Pakistan is also set to assume the chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State for the 2026-27 period. The next meeting of the council is expected to be hosted by Islamabad.

The prime minister’s visit includes several diplomatic engagements with leaders attending the SCO meetings. These meetings are expected to focus on regional cooperation, connectivity, trade and other matters of mutual interest.

Shehbaz is also scheduled to attend the opening ceremony of the World Nomad Games in Bishkek on August 31.

On September 2, the prime minister will hold formal bilateral talks with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov.

The discussions will cover the broader Pakistan-Kyrgyzstan relationship, with particular attention to trade and investment, energy, regional connectivity, education, tourism and people-to-people contacts.

The two leaders are also expected to exchange views on regional and international developments and cooperation through regional and multilateral forums.

The SCO summit comes as the organisation marks 25 years of its existence. The grouping currently has 10 member states, including Pakistan, China, Russia, Iran and India, along with Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Belarus.

Afghanistan and Mongolia hold observer status in the organisation.

Pakistan’s participation in the summit gives Islamabad an opportunity to engage with regional powers and promote its priorities on economic cooperation, connectivity, peace and regional stability.