Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday said water was the “lifeblood” 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 “realise its full potential without lasting peace”.
Without naming India directly, he highlighted the issue of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) and demanded that it be honoured.
“Water is the lifeblood of our region. It sustains millions of lives, nourishes our land and secures the very future of our coming generations,” he noted.
He stressed that it “must never be weaponised; it cannot be used as an instrument of coercion, nor can it ever be exploited for political leverage”.
“The 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.”
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 “is the lifeblood of our region” and must never be weaponised by any state.
He also noted that Pakistan made “immense sacrifices in the fight against terrorism”, and added that Pakistan will conduct its chairmanship of the body under the theme ‘Turning Vision into Action: Connectivity, Innovation and Shared Prosperity’.
“I 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,” he writes.
The prime minister’s 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.
The Hague-based court backed Pakistan’s stance, declaring that the IWT between the two countries remained fully in force, as India had no justification for ending or suspending the agreement.
Water and the IWT remain a contentious issue between India and Pakistan, following New Delhi’s unilateral abeyance of the accord in April last year — a move that was followed by a brief military conflict between the two sides in May 2025.
‘Terrorism one of the gravest threats’
Speaking on the issue of terrorism, PM Shehbaz said it remained “one of the gravest threats that has affected our entire region in its various forms and manifestations”.
As chair of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS), Pakistan has “worked actively to strengthen regional counter-terrorism cooperation”, he highlighted.
“Few 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.”
Pakistan sought a peaceful and stable Afghanistan, he said, adding: “But 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.”
In his speech, the prime minister also mentioned Pakistan’s mediation efforts in the US-Iran war and laid out the country’s plan as it assumed the SCO CHS chair.
PM Shehbaz was welcomed by the Kyrgyz president upon his arrival at the summit’s venue on Tuesday, and later posed with other world leaders for a group photo.
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.
A video clip shared by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) showed PM Shehbaz speaking to China’s President Xi Jinping. He could also be seen sitting together with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The premier also held informal meetings with the presidents of Iran, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Belarus.
Taking SCO chair, Pakistan proposes ‘excellent plan’
Pakistan has assumed the chairmanship of the SCO CHS for 2026–27, with next year’s summit to be hosted by Islamabad.
“As 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,” PM Shehbaz said during his address.
As part of that plan, Pakistan proposed establishing an SCO framework for sovereign AI infrastructure and governance to “promote responsible and inclusive AI development and to also ensure that no member state is left behind”.
The prime minister said Pakistan’s SCO chairmanship will be pursued under the theme, ‘Turning vision into action, connectivity, innovation and shared prosperity’.
“We 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,” the premier said.
He called for turning the SCO vision into action and its promises into progress.
PM Shehbaz said: “Let us […] 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.
“Let history record that the SCO did not merely witness a changing world; we shaped it together.”
The premier noted that the SCO region was inhabited by over 3bn people and blessed with abundant natural resources. “This extraordinary potential also places upon us SCO leaders an extraordinary responsibility to shape a better future for our peoples.”
He recalled that he has long advocated for regional connectivity as the “key to our prosperity”.
“Today, 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.”
PM Shehbaz said the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) continued to “serve as a gateway, linking the regional economies to the Arabian Sea”.
He affirmed that Islamabad remained committed to advancing existing trans-regional railway projects, road connectivity initiatives and regional energy projects.
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 “critical step” in this regard.
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.
‘Intensifying geopolitical tensions’
The premier noted that today’s global landscape “is marked by intensifying geopolitical tensions, fragmenting global economy, escalating climate crises and unprecedented technological transformation”.
“In 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,” he observed.
The prime minister affirmed that Pakistan “consistently upholds and respects the core principles of both the UN and SCO charters”.
“We remain committed to resolving disputes peacefully through international law, adhering strictly to the guidelines of the SCO charter.”
He highlighted that in line with this spirit, Islamabad “staunchly advocated peace when the sovereignty and territorial integrity of an SCO member state was violated earlier this year, triggering a major regional crisis”.
PM Shehbaz then noted that Pakistan and the international community have “borne a heavy economic cost” as the “closure of critical energy supply routes” disrupted the global economy, referring to the Strait of Hormuz.
“In these challenging times, Pakistan has consistently acted as an honest and sincere mediator and facilitator,” he affirmed.
He recalled that Islamabad’s “sustained diplomatic efforts culminated in the signing of the landmark Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding” in June, terming the document a “critical step towards regional de-escalation and the restoration of peace”.
The premier noted that peace-building efforts were continuing and extended his “deepest gratitude to the brotherly and friendly countries, many of whom are represented here today, for their unwavering support throughout this endeavour”.
“We firmly believe that the Islamabad MoU offers the most viable and enduring pathway to lasting peace in the region.”
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.
Besides signing the Islamabad MoU as the mediator, Pakistan had also brokered a ceasefire between the US and Iran in April.
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.
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 “Makkah Defence Alliance”.
He reiterated that the pact was “fundamentally defensive in nature and is neither directed against any state nor intended to create any confrontation or division whatsoever”.
He emphasised that while Pakistan has always strived to strengthen multilateralism, “multilateral organisations must be empowered to translate aspirations into action”.
“The 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.”
The premier called upon the international community to honour its commitment to “help the Palestinian people, alongside all other oppressed nations, secure their fundamental right to self-determination”.
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.
At the outset of his speech, PM Shehbaz congratulated the Kyrgyz Republic on the completion of its “successful SCO chairmanship and for making impressive contributions to further advance practical cooperation among the SCO members”.
The prime minister also felicitated the leadership and people of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan for their respective independence days.
The premier described the gathering as “historic” and extended his gratitude to Kyrgyz President Sadyr Nurgozhoevich Japarov and his team for their hospitality and “excellent arrangements” made for the summit.
“Guided 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,” PM Shehbaz told the summit.
“From a tender sapling, the SCO has grown into a towering tree, providing the shade of security and stability for all of us.”
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.
The prime minister noted that the United Nations was established to “fulfil the universal dream of ending all wars and building enduring peace”.
Stressing that Pakistan has remained fully committed to the UN Charter in the past eight decades, he said: “We see the rise of a multipolar world as an opportunity to build a more equitable, democratic and just international system.
“But today, the UN is urgently in need of reform. It must become more accountable and responsive.”
As a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, Pakistan has been “actively contributing to global peacemaking over the past two years”, PM Shehbaz highlighted.
He noted that these efforts culminated in the signing of the Islamabad MoU, stressing that it offers a “widely accepted basis for all parties to pursue peace through dialogue and diplomacy”.
Speaking about the Makkah defence pact, PM Shehbaz said the agreement “has 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”.
He reiterated his concerns over the situation in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, terming it “deeply troubling”. The premier demanded that the international community “act decisively and now to end the suffering of innocent Palestinian people and uphold their inalienable right to self-determination”.
“The same rights must also be granted to all other oppressed nations around the globe.”
The premier reiterated his remarks about the water issue in his address to the SCO Plus Summit.
Speaking on terrorism, he affirmed Pakistan’s commitment to battling the “three evils of terrorism: separatism, terrorism and religious extremism” under the SCO’s RATS.
“We believe that terrorism, in all its forms and manifestations, including state terrorism, must be condemned in clear and unambiguous terms,” he asserted.
The prime minister stressed the need for the SCO to “deliver tangible dividends to its peoples”.
“I reaffirm Pakistan’s 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.”
He then invited the participants to the next edition of the SCO Plus summit set to be held in Islamabad.
The government later said that PM Shehbaz met UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on the sidelines of the summit.
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.
In a statement posted on X, the Prime Minister’s 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.
Lukashenko visited Pakistan in 2024, with PM Shehbaz visiting Belarus last year.
“Both leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment and resolve to elevate the long-standing friendly relations between Pakistan and Belarus to new heights,” the statement read.
Lahore named SCO’s 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).
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.
The designation is designed to promote people-to-people contacts and tourism among the member states.
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).
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.
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.
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 “warm and cordial interaction”.
Earlier in the day, Dar, who arrived in Bishkek a day ago to join PM Shehbaz, had a “warm exchange” with Iran’s Araghchi.
Dar stressed that the “sincere implementation” of the Islamabad MoU was the only way forward amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, according to FO.
Describing the meeting as a “warm exchange”, FO said the two ministers exchanged views on bilateral relations and regional developments and reaffirmed the importance of continued engagement.
“The 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,” FO said in a statement on X.
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.
Dar “held a warm and cordial exchange” with China’s FM Wang Yi, FO said. Both leaders reaffirmed the All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership between Pakistan and China.
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.
DPM Dar also met with the director of Türkiye’s National Intelligence Organisation (MİT), İbrahim Kalın.
“The 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,” FO said.
Dar underscored the importance of continued coordination and diplomatic engagement for regional peace, security and stability.
The deputy premier and his Russian counterpart Alexei Overchuk had a “productive exchange of views on bilateral relations”, FO said.
They reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening the close Pakistan–Russia partnership, enhancing cooperation, and maintaining high-level engagement between the two sides. They also discussed regional and international developments of mutual interest.
