Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed dignitaries from across the region on Tuesday, marking the first day of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Islamabad. Pakistan, a full member of the SCO since 2017, plays a key role in this significant regional organization, which includes China, India, Russia, and others. PM Shehbaz, as the current Chair of the Council of Heads of Government (CHG), presided over the event. Notably, India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar attended, making it the first such high-level visit from India to Pakistan in nearly a decade.
Footage from the dinner event showed PM Shehbaz greeting Jaishankar and other leaders, including those from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Despite Jaishankar’s post on X focusing only on the SCO summit, his presence in Pakistan stirred diplomatic significance. The Indian minister, however, made it clear that he would not discuss bilateral relations during the meeting, a stance in line with SCO rules.
Diplomacy Without Bilateral Talks
As the summit unfolded, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari highlighted that SCO guidelines prevent member states from raising bilateral issues at the summit. This was particularly significant given the strained relations between Pakistan and India. “There are other forums where countries can talk about their bilateral matters,” Bilawal explained. This came as tensions were still high regarding India’s situation with Canada, though Bilawal refrained from commenting further out of respect for diplomatic protocol.
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From China, Premier Li Qiang led the delegation, marking the first visit by a Chinese premier to Pakistan in over a decade. Alongside China, countries like Russia, Belarus, and Iran were represented by their senior officials, demonstrating the wide-reaching influence of the SCO. The summit’s agenda included several formal discussions and a documents-signing ceremony, highlighting cooperation between member states on key issues of trade, security, and regional stability.
Heightened Security and Diplomatic Protocol
With over 900 delegates expected to attend the summit, security was a top priority in Islamabad. More than 10,000 police and paramilitary personnel were deployed to ensure a smooth and secure event. The Army and Rangers were also called in to guard key government buildings and maintain a strong presence in the capital’s Red Zone. Business closures and traffic restrictions were enforced across Islamabad and Rawalpindi, creating a controlled environment for the visiting dignitaries.
The government provided extensive arrangements for the guests, including accommodation for all visiting delegations at 14 different locations. A total of 124 vehicles were arranged for motorcades, ensuring smooth transportation throughout the event. Among the prominent attendees were delegations from India, Russia, China, and Kyrgyzstan, with each bringing representatives to partake in this major geopolitical gathering.
SCO’s Growing Influence in Global Diplomacy
As the summit progressed, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other leaders stressed the importance of the SCO in fostering regional cooperation and addressing mutual challenges. In the afternoon, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and SCO Secretary-General Zhang Ming briefed the media on the summit’s highlights, emphasizing the shared goals of economic development, security cooperation, and diplomatic engagement.
With high-level participation from across Asia and beyond, the summit underscores the SCO’s rising importance in global affairs, positioning the organization as a critical platform for diplomacy and dialogue across Eurasia.