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Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Friday that durable peace and stability in the region can only be achieved by eliminating the threat of terrorism emanating from neighbouring Afghanistan, Dawn reported. Dar made the remarks while speaking at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers' meeting.

Coverage comparison

The coverage of this story, as reported by Dawn, highlights two main aspects of Dar's participation at the SCO meeting: his statement on terrorism and regional security, and his bilateral meetings with Kyrgyz Republic President Sadyr Nurgozhoevich Zhaparov and China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The reports frame the meetings as part of broader diplomatic engagement on the sidelines of the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers' meeting.

Key claims

  • Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met with Kyrgyz Republic President Sadyr Nurgozhoevich Zhaparov and China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers' meeting.
  • Dar thanked Wang for appreciating Pakistan's diplomatic efforts for regional peace and stability, while Wang conveyed his best wishes to Pakistan for its upcoming chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State (CHS) and hosting of the SCO Summit in 2027.
  • Durable peace and stability in the region can only be achieved by eliminating the threat of terrorism emanating from neighbouring Afghanistan, Dar stated.
  • The SCO has become an anchor for regional cooperation, driving vital progress in peace, security, stability, and economic connectivity, according to Dar's remarks.
  • The SCO comprises 10 member states: India, Iran, China, Pakistan, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
During his speech at the SCO meeting, Dar said: "Durable peace, stability and economic development can only be achieved with the eradication of the menace of terrorism emanating from Afghan soil." He added, "We hope the SCO will call upon the Afghan Taliban regime to honour its counter-terrorism commitments to the international community and fulfil its responsibilities towards global peace and security."

Dar also noted that since its establishment, the SCO has become "an anchor for regional cooperation, driving vital progress in peace, security, stability and economic connectivity while also simultaneously fostering deep cultural exchanges among member states." He observed that over the last 25 years, the SCO had transitioned from a security-centric Shanghai Five to a "comprehensive entity that integrates security, economy, development, culture and peace among others."

In his separate meetings, Dar called on Kyrgyz Republic President Zhaparov along with the foreign ministers of other SCO states. According to the Foreign Office, Dar thanked Zhaparov for the hospitality extended during the SCO meeting. The interaction covered regional and global developments, as well as the evolving role of the SCO as an important platform for cooperation. Dar also underscored the importance of continued collaboration among SCO member states as Pakistan prepares to assume the SCO chairmanship for 2026–27.

Regarding the meeting with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi, the Foreign Office said, "The two leaders held a warm and productive exchange of views on bilateral relations, regional developments, and cooperation within multilateral forums." Dar thanked Wang for appreciating Pakistan's diplomatic efforts for regional peace and stability, and Wang conveyed his best wishes to Pakistan for its upcoming chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State and hosting of the SCO Summit in 2027.

The SCO was initially formed as a security cooperation group in 2001 and has now evolved into a forum for trade and economic development in the region. Its 10 member states are India, Iran, China, Pakistan, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. The two observer states are Afghanistan and Mongolia.

Earlier this month, President Asif Ali Zardari and Kyrgyzstan's Zhaparov reaffirmed their commitment to boosting bilateral ties between Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan, particularly deepening trade, economic and investment cooperation.