Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday said Pakistan’s recently signed Makkah Defence Pact was not directed against any country, stressing that the agreement was aimed at strengthening regional peace and security.
Addressing the meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), the prime minister also reiterated that Pakistan would not allow water to be used as a weapon against the country.
PM Shehbaz said the Islamabad peace agreement between US and Iran had played an important role in defusing tensions and promoting stability in the region.
The prime minister joined leaders of regional countries at the SCO summit being held in Kyrgyzstan. Upon his arrival at the venue, he was warmly received by Kyrgyz President Sadyr Nurgozhoevich Zhaparov.
The two leaders shook hands and posed for a group photograph alongside other participating leaders before the formal proceedings began.
Besides Prime Minister Shehbaz, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev are attending the summit.
The SCO Council of Heads of State meeting is being chaired by President Sadyr Zhaparov as Kyrgyzstan holds the organisation’s rotating presidency for 2025–2026.
During the summit, Prime Minister Shehbaz will assume Pakistan’s chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State for 2026–2027.
He will also participate in the SCO Plus Summit, which is being attended by representatives of non-member states and international organisations.
During his visit, the prime minister is accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan, Communications Minister Abdul Aleem Khan, Information and Broadcasting Minister Attaullah Tarar and senior officials.
PM Shehbaz is also scheduled to hold bilateral talks with President Sadyr Zhaparov to review the entire spectrum of Pakistan-Kyrgyzstan relations. The discussions will focus on expanding cooperation in trade and investment, energy, regional connectivity, education, tourism and people-to-people exchanges.
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