Pakistan to Chair Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Leaders’ Council in 2026-27
The meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member countries was held on Tuesday, Aug. 31, in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, and at its conclusion Pakistan was awarded the chairmanship of the council for 2026-27. Under the decision taken at the meeting, the next summit of leaders is also due to be held in Islamabad.
In his speech at the summit, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation had, over the past two decades, evolved from a fledgling institution into an influential structure for the security and stability of its members. He also said Pakistan considered itself committed to cooperation within what he described as the “Shanghai spirit.”
In another part of his remarks, the Pakistani prime minister referred to geopolitical tensions, climate crises and technological developments, and said the organisation could provide a basis for the collective will of member states to manage challenges and preserve peace. He also stressed Islamabad’s commitment to the UN Charter and to resolving disputes through peaceful means and international law.
Shehbaz Sharif also referred to the crisis caused by the blockage of energy routes in the Strait of Hormuz, and said Islamabad had played a mediating role in this crisis. He claimed that Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts in June led to the signing of the “Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding,” an agreement he said was important for reducing regional tensions.
Alongside the meeting, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said the two sides discussed the full implementation of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding and ways to move beyond the crisis and maintain regional stability.
Pakistan’s foreign minister also held separate meetings on the sidelines of the Bishkek summit with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Belarusian counterpart. The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is a regional body focused on security, political and economic cooperation among its members, and its leaders’ summits are held annually.
