The recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State summit served as a critical platform for Pakistan to advance its strategic interests, navigate complex regional dynamics, and project a coherent foreign policy narrative. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Pakistan’s participation was marked by a series of bilateral engagements and key statements that collectively aimed to reinforce its position as a pivotal player in regional security, connectivity, and counter-terrorism. The outcomes of the summit, including the language of the joint declaration, reveal a concerted effort to align Pakistan’s national concerns with the broader SCO agenda.
Core Plenary Messages
In his address at the plenary session, Prime Minister Sharif delivered several core messages that underscored Pakistan’s key national interests. On the sensitive issue of water, he flagged India’s April attempt to hold the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance, urging a structural dialogue on all outstanding disputes under international and bilateral obligations. This move effectively internationalized a bilateral issue within a major multilateral forum, positioning Pakistan as a proponent of treaty compliance and dialogue. Sharif also used the opportunity to highlight the devastating floods in Pakistan, thanking international partners for their support.
On the subject of terrorism, Sharif’s remarks were particularly pointed. He asserted that Pakistan had irrefutable evidence of foreign hands behind recent attacks, specifically citing the March Jaffar Express hijacking and other attacks in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He warned against using terrorism as a political tool and reiterated the immense sacrifices Pakistan has made, citing a loss of over 90,000 lives and an economic cost of approximately $152 billion. The Prime Minister’s speech also addressed regional stability, emphasizing connectivity (with CPEC as a practical SCO demonstration), the need for a stable Afghanistan, and respect for sovereignty. He condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza and recent attacks on Iran, aligning Pakistan with the positions of other key SCO members.
Crucial Bilateral Engagements
On the sidelines of the main summit, Prime Minister Sharif engaged in a series of vital bilateral meetings that showcased Pakistan’s diversified diplomatic outreach.
- China: During a meeting with President Xi Jinping, the Chinese leader pressed for stronger protection of Chinese personnel and projects in Pakistan. Sharif responded with a firm pledge to spare no effort in ensuring their security, while reaffirming the central role of CPEC and Pakistan’s alignment with China’s broader Belt and Road Initiative.
- Turkiye: His meeting with President Erdogan focused on boosting cooperation in trade, energy, defense, and security. Both leaders noted their political alignment on the situation in Gaza.
- Russia: Discussions with President Putin centered on trade, energy (including new corridor ideas), and broadening bilateral ties. Sharif also received an invitation to visit Moscow for a future SCO heads-of-government meeting.
- Iran: Sharif extended condolences to President Pezeshkian regarding the floods and reviewed the positive momentum in bilateral cooperation.
- Azerbaijan: A meeting was confirmed with President Aliyev, part of a round of bilaterals that underscored Pakistan’s engagement with various SCO+ members. No engagement with India was reported.
A Concrete Narrative Win on Counter-Terrorism
A significant outcome for Pakistan was the language of the Tianjin Declaration. It explicitly condemned the Jaffar Express hijacking and the Khuzdar school bus bombing, placing these lethal attacks on Pakistani soil in the same category as the Pahalgam attack in IIOJK. This is a concrete, text-level win for Islamabad’s narrative, as it secured an SCO-level condemnation of specific attacks inside Pakistan. This strengthens Islamabad’s case regarding external sponsorship and the need for a collective counter-terrorism response, moving beyond the generic statements of the past. It effectively framed Pakistan not just as a victim of terrorism but as a country whose internal security challenges are a matter of regional concern for the entire SCO family.
The Sum of the Parts
Pakistan’s performance at the SCO summit represents a series of key narrative wins. The issue-linkage on water allowed Pakistan to internationalize India’s IWT move inside a leaders’ forum, positioning itself as dialogue-forward and treaty-compliant. The specific condemnation of the Jaffar Express and Khuzdar attacks provided a powerful counter-terrorism framing, lending credibility to Islamabad’s claims of external sponsorship. Furthermore, the ability to keep CPEC central to the SCO’s connectivity vision, along with visible engagements with a wide range of partners from China and Russia to Turkiye and Iran, showcased a balanced and dynamic foreign policy in a time of regional flux. The summit, therefore, proved to be a successful diplomatic endeavor for Pakistan, solidifying its role as an indispensable member of the SCO.
Pakistan at the SCO Summit: Strategic Messaging and Diplomatic Wins
The recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State summit served as a critical platform for Pakistan to advance its strategic interests, navigate complex regional dynamics, and project a coherent foreign policy narrative. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Pakistan’s participation was marked by a series of bilateral engagements and key statements that collectively aimed to reinforce its position as a pivotal player in regional security, connectivity, and counter-terrorism. The outcomes of the summit, including the language of the joint declaration, reveal a concerted effort to align Pakistan’s national concerns with the broader SCO agenda.
Core Plenary Messages
In his address at the plenary session, Prime Minister Sharif delivered several core messages that underscored Pakistan’s key national interests. On the sensitive issue of water, he flagged India’s April attempt to hold the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance, urging a structural dialogue on all outstanding disputes under international and bilateral obligations. This move effectively internationalized a bilateral issue within a major multilateral forum, positioning Pakistan as a proponent of treaty compliance and dialogue. Sharif also used the opportunity to highlight the devastating floods in Pakistan, thanking international partners for their support.
On the subject of terrorism, Sharif’s remarks were particularly pointed. He asserted that Pakistan had irrefutable evidence of foreign hands behind recent attacks, specifically citing the March Jaffar Express hijacking and other attacks in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He warned against using terrorism as a political tool and reiterated the immense sacrifices Pakistan has made, citing a loss of over 90,000 lives and an economic cost of approximately $152 billion. The Prime Minister’s speech also addressed regional stability, emphasizing connectivity (with CPEC as a practical SCO demonstration), the need for a stable Afghanistan, and respect for sovereignty. He condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza and recent attacks on Iran, aligning Pakistan with the positions of other key SCO members.
Crucial Bilateral Engagements
On the sidelines of the main summit, Prime Minister Sharif engaged in a series of vital bilateral meetings that showcased Pakistan’s diversified diplomatic outreach.
A Concrete Narrative Win on Counter-Terrorism
A significant outcome for Pakistan was the language of the Tianjin Declaration. It explicitly condemned the Jaffar Express hijacking and the Khuzdar school bus bombing, placing these lethal attacks on Pakistani soil in the same category as the Pahalgam attack in IIOJK. This is a concrete, text-level win for Islamabad’s narrative, as it secured an SCO-level condemnation of specific attacks inside Pakistan. This strengthens Islamabad’s case regarding external sponsorship and the need for a collective counter-terrorism response, moving beyond the generic statements of the past. It effectively framed Pakistan not just as a victim of terrorism but as a country whose internal security challenges are a matter of regional concern for the entire SCO family.
The Sum of the Parts
Pakistan’s performance at the SCO summit represents a series of key narrative wins. The issue-linkage on water allowed Pakistan to internationalize India’s IWT move inside a leaders’ forum, positioning itself as dialogue-forward and treaty-compliant. The specific condemnation of the Jaffar Express and Khuzdar attacks provided a powerful counter-terrorism framing, lending credibility to Islamabad’s claims of external sponsorship. Furthermore, the ability to keep CPEC central to the SCO’s connectivity vision, along with visible engagements with a wide range of partners from China and Russia to Turkiye and Iran, showcased a balanced and dynamic foreign policy in a time of regional flux. The summit, therefore, proved to be a successful diplomatic endeavor for Pakistan, solidifying its role as an indispensable member of the SCO.
SAT Commentary
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