Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is set to travel to Kyrgyzstan on Thursday to lead Pakistan’s delegation at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers meeting.
Read More: Dar, Kyrgyz minister reaffirm commitment to improving bilateral ties
The two-day meeting, scheduled for July 23 and 24 in Cholpon-Ata, will bring together the foreign ministers of all SCO member states to discuss regional cooperation, international affairs, security challenges and key foreign policy issues.
According to Pakistan’s Foreign Office, Dar is attending the meeting at the invitation of Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Zheenbek Kulubaev. Besides leading the Pakistani delegation, he is expected to hold several bilateral meetings with his counterparts from SCO member countries as well as meet the President of Kyrgyzstan during the visit.
The SCO Council of Foreign Ministers is the organisation’s third-highest decision-making forum and plays a key role in preparing the agenda for meetings of the Council of Heads of State. It also reviews developments in international relations, regional security, economic cooperation and multilateral engagement among member countries.
The meeting will be attended by foreign ministers from Pakistan, China, India, Russia, Iran, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
Pakistan is expected to use the forum to reaffirm its commitment to regional connectivity, economic cooperation and collective security while strengthening diplomatic engagement with fellow SCO members.
During the sidelines of the meeting, Ishaq Dar’s bilateral discussions are expected to focus on enhancing political, economic and strategic cooperation with participating countries, alongside matters of mutual regional and international interest.
The visit comes as Pakistan continues to expand its engagement through regional organisations, with the government viewing the SCO as an important platform for promoting trade, connectivity and security cooperation across Eurasia.
Read More: Ishaq Dar to lead Pakistan at SCO heads of government meeting
The Foreign Office said Dar’s participation reflects Pakistan’s commitment to playing an active role within the SCO framework and contributing to efforts aimed at strengthening regional peace, stability and economic integration.