PM Shehbaz Sharif Addresses SCO Plus Summit in Bishkek

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, addressing the SCO Plus Heads of State Summit in Bishkek, said Pakistan remains fully committed to the principles of the United Nations Charter. He described the Shanghai Cooperation Organization as an increasingly important regional forum and highlighted Pakistan’s role in efforts to promote peace and stability in the Middle East. The prime minister said the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding had emerged as part of diplomatic efforts aimed at advancing peace in the region.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif identified terrorism as one of the most serious threats confronting the region and said Pakistan had paid an enormous human and economic cost in the fight against militancy. He stated that more than 90,000 Pakistanis had lost their lives in the war against terrorism, while the country had suffered economic losses exceeding $150 billion. He emphasized that Pakistan remained committed to combating terrorism and promoting regional peace and stability.

The Prime Minister also expressed concern over the use of Afghan territory by terrorists against Pakistan. He called on the Afghan government to ensure that its soil was not used for attacks against Pakistan and reiterated that Islamabad wanted to see a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan. Shehbaz Sharif stressed that regional stability required collective efforts to eliminate terrorism and strengthen cooperation among neighboring and regional states.