Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Bishkek.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State meeting. The interaction took place as world leaders gathered in the Kyrgyz capital for the summit and the associated SCO Plus session.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the meeting with the UN chief was among several informal interactions Prime Minister Shehbaz held with global leaders during the opening ceremony of the sixth World Nomad Games in Bishkek. On the same occasion, he also met Russian President Vladimir Putin, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
Pakistan’s Role at the SCO Summit in Bishkek
The Prime Minister arrived in Bishkek on a three-day official visit running from August 31 to September 2, at the invitation of Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov. The visit centered on his participation in the SCO Council of Heads of State meeting, one of the most significant gatherings on the organization’s calendar.
During the summit, Prime Minister Shehbaz joined other heads of state in signing the Bishkek Declaration, a document marking the 25th anniversary of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. He signed the declaration on behalf of Pakistan alongside leaders including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. The declaration reflected a shared commitment among member states to strengthen security, advance regional connectivity, and expand opportunities for their populations.
The summit was held in an expanded SCO Plus format, bringing together leaders from member states, partner countries, and observer nations. Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov chaired the gathering, which drew participation from across the wider region.
Pakistan to Assume SCO Chairmanship for 2026-27
A key outcome for Pakistan at the Bishkek summit is its move to assume the chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State for the 2026-27 term. The role places Islamabad in a leading position within the organization for the coming year, giving it a central hand in shaping the bloc’s agenda and priorities.
Alongside the multilateral sessions, Prime Minister Shehbaz held a series of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit. In his meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, both leaders reaffirmed longstanding ties between their countries, and the Iranian president invited the Prime Minister to attend the Economic Cooperation Organisation summit in Tehran in December 2026. In a separate meeting with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the Prime Minister emphasized the timely implementation of decisions taken at the leadership level, particularly in trade, investment, connectivity, and economic cooperation.
The Prime Minister was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, along with several federal ministers and senior officials. He is scheduled to hold formal talks with President Japarov on September 2 to review the full range of Pakistan-Kyrgyzstan relations, including trade, energy cooperation, regional connectivity, education, and tourism.
