International: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addressed the high-level Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit on Wednesday in Islamabad, where he advocated 'prosperity through unity' with assistance from all member-states and pledged commitment to regional peace and stability, enhanced connectivity and socio-economic development.

"We are at historic moment of transition, where sweeping transformations are reshaping the global, social, political, economic and security landscape. from the esteemed platform of SCO, a beacon of multilateralism, I stand resolute in the belief that we possess not only the potential but the collective will to forge a future that is more prosperous, stable and secure for our people. A future that is inclusive and reflective of the shared aspirations of all member states," shehbaz said in his opening remarks.

"When Pakistan assumed the chair of this August forum last year, we reaffirmed our commitment to regional peace and stability, enhanced connectivity and sustainable socio-economic development. We believe that these tenets are fundamental to the SCO's progress and advancement of our collective vision," Shehbaz further said.

Shehbaz Sharif on Afghanistan

He called for a shift towards a shift to tangible actions through coordinated implementation, strengthening our cooperation in the vital sector of trade and economy. He highlighted that the SCO “embodies the collective voice and wishes of over 40 per cent of the global population anchored in the Shanghai spirit”.

The Pakistan PM further commented on its neighbour Afghanistan, saying it presents an invaluable and rare opportunity for trade and transiting, benefitting all SCO member-states. "A stable Afghanistan is not only desirable, but essential to fully realise these great opportunities," he added.

He urged the international community to step forward with urgent humanitarian support, while calling upon the Afghan interim government to embrace political inclusivity and ensure that Afghan soil is not used for terrorism against its neighbours by any entity. 

"Our collaboration, joint teamwork expands academic and tourism linkages, poverty alleviation, empowerment of women and youth across the SCO region. reflection and commitment of our determination to promote prosperity through unity," he further said.

Pakistan endorses India's INSTC project, China's BRI

Shehbaz also supported flagships projects like Xi Jinping's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) for enhanced connectivity between the SCO member states. "Let us not look at such projects through the narrow political prism and invest in our collective connectivity capacities which are crucial to advancing the shared vision of an economically integrated region," he added.

The INSTC is a multi modal transportation established in 2000 in St Petersburg by Iran, Russia and India for the purpose of promoting transportation cooperation. This corridor connects India Ocean and Persian Gulf to the Caspian Sea via Islamic republic of Iran, then is connected to St. Petersburg and North European via Russian Federation.

Who are attending the SCO Summit?

Pakistan had assumed the rotating chair of the SCO CHG for 2023-24 at the previous meeting held in Bishkek on October 26, 2023, where the country was represented by then interim Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani. The SCO comprises China, India, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Belarus — with 16 more countries affiliated as observers or “dialogue partners”.

Earlier on Wednesday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday exchanged pleasantries with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the second day of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). The brief exchange took place at the venue of the SCO summit. Jaishankar and Sharif warmly shook hands with PM Sharif and his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar and held a very brief interaction.

Jaishankar's aircraft landed at the Nur Khan airbase on the outskirts of the Pakistani capital city at around 3:30 pm (local time) on Tuesday and he was greeted by senior Pakistani officials. It is the first time in nearly nine years that India's foreign minister travelled to Pakistan even as the ties between the two neighbours remained tense over the Kashmir issue and cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan.

The last Indian Foreign Minister to visit Pakistan was Sushma Swaraj. She had travelled to Islamabad to attend the 'Heart of Asia' conference on Afghanistan that was held from December 8 to 9 in 2015. The ties between India and Pakistan came under severe strain after India's warplanes pounded a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist training camp in Balakot in Pakistan in February 2019 in response to the Pulwama terror attack.