ISLAMABAD: In order to assume the rotating chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) for the 2026–27 term, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will travel to Kyrgyz capital Bishkek (tomorrow) Monday to attend the organisation’s Council of Heads of State summit.
Pakistan will formally take over the SCO chairmanship at the summit, which is scheduled to be held in the Kyrgyz capital from August 31 to September 1. Islamabad will hold the chairmanship for one year, overseeing the organisation’s key activities and meetings during the 2026–27 term.
Under the rotating system, Pakistan will chair the SCO Council of Heads of State as well as the Council of Foreign Ministers. A major event during Pakistan’s tenure will be the next SCO heads of state summit, which Pakistan is expected to host in Islamabad in 2027.
The summit will bring together leaders from SCO member states, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Russian President Vladimir Putin, along with other senior leaders.
Prime Minister Shehbaz is also expected to hold meetings with several participating leaders on the sidelines of the summit and call on the Kyrgyz leadership. However, there is no chance of a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will also attend the Bishkek summit. According to media reports, the Foreign Office has said that India has not requested a meeting between Modi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The summit is likely to focus on economic cooperation among SCO members, regional security and counterterrorism. The situation in the Middle East, particularly tensions involving Iran, is also expected to feature in discussions. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will arrive in Bishkek today (Sunday) after completing his official visit to the United Kingdom.
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