BISHKEK (Dunya News) - Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday said Pakistan remained committed to lasting regional peace and stressed that water could not be used for political purposes or as a tool of pressure.
Addressing the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State meeting in Bishkek, the prime minister described the gathering as “historic” and said it was an honour for him to participate in the summit.
He thanked Kyrgyz President Sadyr Nurgozhoevich Japarov and his team for their hospitality and arrangements for the summit, while congratulating Kyrgyzstan on successfully completing its SCO chairmanship and contributing to practical cooperation among member states.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in a group photo with heads of States at the SCO Council of Heads of State Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan on 1 September 2026. pic.twitter.com/3lsruWHaYV
— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) September 1, 2026He described Pakistan as an active and responsible member of the SCO and said the international landscape was facing growing geopolitical tensions.
The prime minister said Pakistan had played an effective role in promoting peace during recent regional crises. He added that Islamabad’s diplomatic efforts had contributed to the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, which he described as an important step towards reducing regional tensions.
PM Shehbaz described terrorism as one of the most serious threats facing the region and highlighted Pakistan’s sacrifices in the fight against militancy.
He said more than 90,000 Pakistanis had lost their lives in the war against terrorism, while the country had suffered economic losses exceeding $150 billion.
The prime minister stressed that Afghan territory must not be allowed to be used by terrorists against Pakistan.
He said Pakistan wanted to see a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan, adding that lasting regional peace was essential for economic development.
PM Shehbaz said regional connectivity was no longer a choice but a strategic necessity.
The prime minister also raised the issue of water, describing it as vital to the region’s survival and the future of coming generations. He said using water for political purposes or as a tool of pressure was unacceptable and called for full implementation of international agreements in both letter and spirit.
He highlighted the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as an important link connecting regional economies with the Arabian Sea and said Pakistan remained committed to expanding regional rail, road and energy projects.
The prime minister noted that more than three billion people lived across SCO member states, creating enormous potential for trade, investment and economic cooperation.
He called for implementation of the SCO Development Strategy 2035 and said the establishment of an SCO development bank could prove to be an important step towards strengthening regional economic cooperation.
Pakistan, he added, would continue contributing to poverty alleviation and the promotion of social protection.
With Pakistan taking over the SCO Council of Heads of State chairmanship for 2026-27, PM Shehbaz said Islamabad would give particular attention to energy, information technology, health, culture and sports.
He also announced that Pakistan would propose an artificial intelligence infrastructure and governance framework within the SCO.
The prime minister urged member states to translate their collective commitments into practical measures and said stronger multilateral cooperation was essential to address emerging regional and global challenges.
The prime minister also expressed concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the West Bank, saying the crisis had caused unimaginable suffering.
He called on the international community to respect the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and take meaningful steps to address the humanitarian crisis.
PM Shehbaz further said South Asia could not achieve its full potential without sustainable peace.
He stressed that strengthening cooperation, connectivity and collective security within the SCO could contribute to a more peaceful and prosperous region. Pakistan is set to assume the chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State for 2026-27, with Islamabad scheduled to host the next summit in 2027.
The two-day SCO summit has brought together leaders from China, Russia, Iran, India, Türkiye and other member states. Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Belarus are also part of the regional bloc.
On the sidelines of the summit, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held separate meetings with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov.
A warm exchange between Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 and Foreign Minister of Iran Seyyed Abbas Araghchi @Araghchi ahead of the SCO Council of Heads of State meeting in Bishkek today. The two Foreign Ministers exchanged views on… pic.twitter.com/flgYsG0B3l
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) September 1, 2026During his meeting with Araghchi, Dar emphasised the importance of dialogue and diplomacy for regional peace and said sincere implementation of the Islamabad MoU remained essential for reducing tensions.
Dar and Wang Yi also reaffirmed the Pakistan-China All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership and discussed matters of mutual interest, including the upcoming United Nations General Assembly session and the election of the next UN secretary-general.
Meanwhile, Dar’s meeting with the Belarusian foreign minister focused on bilateral relations, regional developments and other issues of mutual interest.