Pakistan vows stronger ties with SCO states

Dar exchanges views with counterparts

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Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar addresses the National Assembly on June 24, 2026. SCREENGRAB

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ISLAMABAD:

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Saturday reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to stronger bilateral cooperation during meetings with his Belarusian, Kazakh, Tajik and Uzbek counterparts on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Council of Foreign Ministers' (SCO-CFM) meeting in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), the foreign minister met his Belarusian counterpart, Maxim Ryzhenkov, with the two sides reviewing bilateral relations and reaffirming their commitment to strengthening cooperation across a range of sectors.

"The two ministers also looked forward to the ninth session of the Pakistan-Belarus Joint Ministerial Commission, to be hosted by Pakistan in Islamabad on August 11-12, 2026, as well as to high-level exchanges," it added.

The statement said that the two leaders discussed ways to expand economic and trade cooperation, deepen collaboration in defence, agriculture, technology, and workforce exchange, and reaffirmed their commitment to the Roadmap for Comprehensive Cooperation 2025–2027.

It added that FM Dar and Ryzhenkov "also exchanged views on regional developments and issues of mutual interest," with the Belarusian FM appreciating Pakistan's "constructive role in facilitating dialogue during the US-Iran situation" and commending Islamabad's continued efforts to promote regional peace and security.

In a separate meeting, FM Dar met with the Kazakhstan counterpart Yermek Kosherbayev, reviewing the "positive momentum" in bilateral relations following the visit of Belarusian President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to Pakistan earlier this year.

According to MoFA, the two ministers "reaffirmed their commitment to implementing the understandings reached, including the 37 MoUs signed during the visit."

"They agreed to intensify cooperation in trade, investment, transport and regional connectivity, energy, people-to-people exchanges, and at multilateral forums," MoFA added.

Meanwhile, they also exchanged views on regional and global developments, reiterating their shared commitment to peace, stability, and prosperity.

Kosherbayev appreciated Pakistan's efforts to advance regional peace and diplomacy, inviting FM Dar to visit Kazakhstan, which he graciously accepted at a mutually convenient time, MoFA concluded.

In his meeting with Tajikistan's Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin, FM Dar and the minister "reaffirmed the longstanding, brotherly, and close ties between Pakistan and Tajikistan."