Bishkek,Kyrgyzstan(National Times)-\u00a0Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday said water was the \u201clifeblood\u201d of the region and must never be weaponised, as he addressed a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Kyrgyzstan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking at the SCO Council of Heads of States (CHS) meeting in the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek, the premier said the region cannot \u201crealise its full potential without lasting peace\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Without naming India directly, he highlighted the issue of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) and demanded that it be honoured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWater is the lifeblood of our region. It sustains millions of lives, nourishes our land and secures the very future of our coming generations,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He stressed that it \u201cmust never be weaponised; it cannot be used as an instrument of coercion, nor can it ever be exploited for political leverage\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe treaties governing our shared waters are solemn, binding international commitments. They are not matters of political convenience to be cast aside at your will. They must be honoured unconditionally, in both letter and spirit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a later statement on X, the premier said he was honoured to address the ceremony as Pakistan assumed chairmanship of the SCO, reiterating that water \u201cis the lifeblood of our region\u201d and must never be weaponised by any state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He also noted that Pakistan made \u201cimmense sacrifices in the fight against terrorism\u201d, and added that Pakistan will conduct its chairmanship of the body under the theme \u2018Turning Vision into Action: Connectivity, Innovation and Shared Prosperity\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI am confident that the SCO will continue to grow from strength to strength and bring meaningful improvements to the lives of its more than 3 billion people,\u201d he writes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The prime minister\u2019s speech comes a day after the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) ordered India to uphold the IWT with Pakistan and suspend work on a hydro project in occupied Kashmir.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Hague-based court backed Pakistan\u2019s stance, declaring that the IWT between the two countries remained fully in force, as India had no justification for ending or suspending the agreement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Water and the IWT remain a contentious issue between India and Pakistan, following New Delhi\u2019s unilateral abeyance of the accord in April last year \u2014 a move that was followed by a brief military conflict between the two sides in May 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018Terrorism one of the gravest threats\u2019
Speaking on the issue of terrorism, PM Shehbaz said it remained \u201cone of the gravest threats that has affected our entire region in its various forms and manifestations\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As chair of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS), Pakistan has \u201cworked actively to strengthen regional counter-terrorism cooperation\u201d, he highlighted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFew nations have fought against the scourge of terrorism as resolutely and valiantly as Pakistan. In the past two and a half decades, we have sacrificed more than 90,000 lives and endured economic losses of over $150 billion in combatting terrorism.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pakistan sought a peaceful and stable Afghanistan, he said, adding: \u201cBut let there be no ambiguity; so long as terrorists continue to use Afghan territory to shed the blood of innocent Pakistanis and other nations, lasting peace will remain beyond our reach.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In his speech, the prime minister also mentioned Pakistan\u2019s mediation efforts in the US-Iran war and laid out the country\u2019s plan as it assumed the SCO CHS chair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
PM Shehbaz was welcomed by the Kyrgyz president upon his arrival at the summit\u2019s venue on Tuesday, and later posed with other world leaders for a group photo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Leaders from China, Iran, Turkiye, Russia, and India were also in Kyrgyzstan for the two-day summit. The regional bloc, which also includes Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Belarus, is celebrating its 25th anniversary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A video clip shared by the Prime Minister\u2019s Office (PMO) showed PM Shehbaz speaking to China\u2019s President Xi Jinping. He could also be seen sitting together with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The premier also held informal meetings with the presidents of Iran, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Belarus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taking SCO chair, Pakistan proposes \u2018excellent plan\u2019
Pakistan has assumed the chairmanship of the SCO CHS for 2026\u201327, with next year\u2019s summit to be hosted by Islamabad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs Pakistan assumes the chairmanship of the SCO, we are proposing an excellent plan that will prioritise key sectors, including IT and AI, energy development, poverty reduction, disaster management, health, culture and sports,\u201d PM Shehbaz said during his address.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As part of that plan, Pakistan proposed establishing an SCO framework for sovereign AI infrastructure and governance to \u201cpromote responsible and inclusive AI development and to also ensure that no member state is left behind\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The prime minister said Pakistan\u2019s SCO chairmanship will be pursued under the theme, \u2018Turning vision into action, connectivity, innovation and shared prosperity\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe undertake this responsibility with humility, hope and abiding faith that connectivity will bring our peoples closer, innovation will open new doors of opportunity, and shared prosperity will reach every home,\u201d the premier said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He called for turning the SCO vision into action and its promises into progress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
PM Shehbaz said: \u201cLet us [\u2026] move forward together with the resolve that, in a time of uncertainty, history will record the SCO as having chosen cooperation over confrontation, dialogue over division, and hope over fear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLet history record that the SCO did not merely witness a changing world; we shaped it together.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The premier noted that the SCO region was inhabited by over 3bn people and blessed with abundant natural resources. \u201cThis extraordinary potential also places upon us SCO leaders an extraordinary responsibility to shape a better future for our peoples.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He recalled that he has long advocated for regional connectivity as the \u201ckey to our prosperity\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cToday, connectivity is no longer a choice; it is a strategic imperative. The regional crisis has also proven that diversified transport networks, secure energy corridors and resilient supply chains are indispensable to our collective security.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
PM Shehbaz said the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) continued to \u201cserve as a gateway, linking the regional economies to the Arabian Sea\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He affirmed that Islamabad remained committed to advancing existing trans-regional railway projects, road connectivity initiatives and regional energy projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The prime minister called for ensuring the implementation of the SCO Development Strategy until 2035, adding that the establishment of the SCO Development Bank would be a \u201ccritical step\u201d in this regard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As the permanent chair of the Special Working Group of the SCO on Poverty Reduction, Pakistan will continue to strengthen social protection and promote inclusive and sustainable development across the SCO region, he pledged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018Intensifying geopolitical tensions\u2019
The premier noted that today\u2019s global landscape \u201cis marked by intensifying geopolitical tensions, fragmenting global economy, escalating climate crises and unprecedented technological transformation\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn such a complex environment, the SCO represents our collective resolve to navigate through these enormous challenges together and deliver peace, security and prosperity to our peoples,\u201d he observed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The prime minister affirmed that Pakistan \u201cconsistently upholds and respects the core principles of both the UN and SCO charters\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe remain committed to resolving disputes peacefully through international law, adhering strictly to the guidelines of the SCO charter.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He highlighted that in line with this spirit, Islamabad \u201cstaunchly advocated peace when the sovereignty and territorial integrity of an SCO member state was violated earlier this year, triggering a major regional crisis\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
PM Shehbaz then noted that Pakistan and the international community have \u201cborne a heavy economic cost\u201d as the \u201cclosure of critical energy supply routes\u201d disrupted the global economy, referring to the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn these challenging times, Pakistan has consistently acted as an honest and sincere mediator and facilitator,\u201d he affirmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He recalled that Islamabad\u2019s \u201csustained diplomatic efforts culminated in the signing of the landmark Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding\u201d in June, terming the document a \u201ccritical step towards regional de-escalation and the restoration of peace\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The premier noted that peace-building efforts were continuing and extended his \u201cdeepest gratitude to the brotherly and friendly countries, many of whom are represented here today, for their unwavering support throughout this endeavour\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe firmly believe that the Islamabad MoU offers the most viable and enduring pathway to lasting peace in the region.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 14-point MoU, signed in June, provided a framework for ending the war that began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28. It was a result of mediation efforts spearheaded by Pakistan and others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Besides signing the Islamabad MoU as the mediator, Pakistan had also brokered a ceasefire between the US and Iran in April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The April ceasefire put an end to the most intense fighting, but sporadic attacks, mainly around the Strait of Hormuz, have dimmed the prospects of a final peace agreement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the SCO summit, the prime minister also mentioned the signing of the trilateral defence pact between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye last month, named the \u201cMakkah Defence Alliance\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He reiterated that the pact was \u201cfundamentally defensive in nature and is neither directed against any state nor intended to create any confrontation or division whatsoever\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He emphasised that while Pakistan has always strived to strengthen multilateralism, \u201cmultilateral organisations must be empowered to translate aspirations into action\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe plight of the innocent people of Gaza and West Bank continues unabated, causing unimaginable suffering. Palestinian mothers endure the profound grief of mourning their children, families remain torn apart, and entire generations continue to live under a perpetual shadow of fear, deprivation and gross injustice.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The premier called upon the international community to honour its commitment to \u201chelp the Palestinian people, alongside all other oppressed nations, secure their fundamental right to self-determination\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Monday, Israeli airstrikes killed five people around Gaza City, a local hospital and rescuers said. Despite a US-backed ceasefire that took effect in October 2025, violence has not halted in the Gaza Strip, with Israel continuing to target Palestinians it claims are fighters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the outset of his speech, PM Shehbaz congratulated the Kyrgyz Republic on the completion of its \u201csuccessful SCO chairmanship and for making impressive contributions to further advance practical cooperation among the SCO members\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The prime minister also felicitated the leadership and people of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan for their respective independence days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The premier described the gathering as \u201chistoric\u201d and extended his gratitude to Kyrgyz President Sadyr Nurgozhoevich Japarov and his team for their hospitality and \u201cexcellent arrangements\u201d made for the summit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGuided by the Shanghai spirit, Pakistan takes great pride in being part of the SCO, as we celebrate 25 years of this remarkable journey, a milestone for which I congratulate all fellow members,\u201d PM Shehbaz told the summit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFrom a tender sapling, the SCO has grown into a towering tree, providing the shade of security and stability for all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
UN urgently in need of reform, PM tells SCO Plus summit
PM Shehbaz also addressed the SCO Plus summit, an expanded format of the regional bloc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The prime minister noted that the United Nations was established to \u201cfulfil the universal dream of ending all wars and building enduring peace\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stressing that Pakistan has remained fully committed to the UN Charter in the past eight decades, he said: \u201cWe see the rise of a multipolar world as an opportunity to build a more equitable, democratic and just international system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut today, the UN is urgently in need of reform. It must become more accountable and responsive.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, Pakistan has been \u201cactively contributing to global peacemaking over the past two years\u201d, PM Shehbaz highlighted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He noted that these efforts culminated in the signing of the Islamabad MoU, stressing that it offers a \u201cwidely accepted basis for all parties to pursue peace through dialogue and diplomacy\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking about the Makkah defence pact, PM Shehbaz said the agreement \u201chas further strengthened the prospect for peace in the region by sending a message of unity and common resolve, as well as to promote progress and prosperity in the region\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He reiterated his concerns over the situation in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, terming it \u201cdeeply troubling\u201d. The premier demanded that the international community \u201cact decisively and now to end the suffering of innocent Palestinian people and uphold their inalienable right to self-determination\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe same rights must also be granted to all other oppressed nations around the globe.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The premier reiterated his remarks about the water issue in his address to the SCO Plus Summit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking on terrorism, he affirmed Pakistan\u2019s commitment to battling the \u201cthree evils of terrorism: separatism, terrorism and religious extremism\u201d under the SCO\u2019s RATS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe believe that terrorism, in all its forms and manifestations, including state terrorism, must be condemned in clear and unambiguous terms,\u201d he asserted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The prime minister stressed the need for the SCO to \u201cdeliver tangible dividends to its peoples\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI reaffirm Pakistan\u2019s solemn resolve and commitment to realise the true potential of the SCO. In our efforts to elevate the SCO to even greater heights, we seek the kind cooperation of SCO member states, as well as our valued SCO Plus family.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He then invited the participants to the next edition of the SCO Plus summit set to be held in Islamabad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The government later said that PM Shehbaz met UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on the sidelines of the summit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
PM pledges to boost cooperation with Belarus
On the sidelines of the summit, PM Shehbaz met Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko, and both leaders expressed satisfaction with the positive trajectory of bilateral ties and cooperation across the political, trade, and economic spheres, among others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a statement posted on X, the Prime Minister\u2019s Office (PMO) said that both leaders pledged to boost cooperation in trade, industry, agriculture, IT and vocational training as priority sectors, with PM Shehbaz extending an invitation to Lukashenko to once again visit Pakistan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lukashenko visited Pakistan in 2024, with PM Shehbaz visiting Belarus last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBoth leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment and resolve to elevate the long-standing friendly relations between Pakistan and Belarus to new heights,\u201d the statement read.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lahore named SCO\u2019s Tourism and Culture Capital for 2026-27
The city of Lahore has been named the Tourism and Cultural Capital for 2026-27 by the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The title of Tourism and Cultural Capital has been rotated annually among SCO member states since 2022, and the designation serves to highlight the prominence of a city that embodies the cultural heritage of the country that takes over the rotating presidency of the organisation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The designation is designed to promote people-to-people contacts and tourism among the member states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cities that have held the title in the past include Varanasi, India (2022-23), Almaty, Kazakhstan (2023-24), Qingdao, China (2024-25) and Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan (2025-26).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The decision to designate Lahore as the tourism and cultural capital was taken in April this year, when the heads of tourism administrations of SCO member states met in Bishkek.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dar meets counterparts from Iran, China, others
On the sidelines of the twin SCO summits, DPM Dar interacted with the foreign ministers of China, Russia, Iran, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Belarus and Armenia, among other leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Foreign Office (FO) shared pictures of Dar, Iranian FM Abbas Araghchi, Russian FM Sergey Lavrov, Tajik FM Sirojiddin Muhriddin and Kazakh FM Yermek Kosherbayev having a \u201cwarm and cordial interaction\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Earlier in the day, Dar, who arrived in Bishkek a day ago to join PM Shehbaz, had a \u201cwarm exchange\u201d with Iran\u2019s Araghchi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dar stressed that the \u201csincere implementation\u201d of the Islamabad MoU was the only way forward amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, according to FO.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Describing the meeting as a \u201cwarm exchange\u201d, FO said the two ministers exchanged views on bilateral relations and regional developments and reaffirmed the importance of continued engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe DPM underscored that dialogue and diplomacy remain essential to promoting peace and stability in the region, and that sincere implementation by both parties to the conflict of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding of June 2026 remains the only way forward,\u201d FO said in a statement on X.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A day ago, PM Shehbaz had met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the summit in Bishkek and underscored the need to build on the understandings reached under the Islamabad MoU.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dar \u201cheld a warm and cordial exchange\u201d with China\u2019s FM Wang Yi, FO said. Both leaders reaffirmed the All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership between Pakistan and China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They also discussed matters of mutual interest, including the upcoming United Nations General Assembly session this month in New York and the ongoing process for the election of the next UN secretary-general.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
DPM Dar also met with the director of T\u00fcrkiye\u2019s National Intelligence Organisation (M\u0130T), \u0130brahim Kal\u0131n.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe two sides exchanged views on regional developments and matters of mutual interest, including the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement and the inaugural meeting of its Strategic Political and Defence Committee, as well as recent developments in the region,\u201d FO said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dar underscored the importance of continued coordination and diplomatic engagement for regional peace, security and stability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The deputy premier and his Russian counterpart Alexei Overchuk had a \u201cproductive exchange of views on bilateral relations\u201d, FO said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening the close Pakistan\u2013Russia partnership, enhancing cooperation, and maintaining high-level engagement between the two sides. They also discussed regional and international developments of mutual interest.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Bishkek,Kyrgyzstan(National Times)-\u00a0Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday said water was the \u201clifeblood\u201d of the region and must never be weaponised, as he addressed a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Kyrgyzstan. Speaking at the SCO Council of Heads of States (CHS) meeting in the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek, the premier said the region cannot […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":132333,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-132332","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest_news","entry"],"yoast_head":"\n