Dr. Zahid Anwar Khan (IR Expert):  Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has delivered a well versed and to the point speech at Shanghai Cooperation Organization Council of Heads of State meeting in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Actually, Pakistan has born immense losses due to its front line role in international campaign on terrorism so Prime Minister in his today’s speech also highlighted this issue before the participants. Prime Minister has sought international attention towards the issue of terrorism and sought cooperation to counter terrorism. Furthermore, Prime Minister has urged international community to play due role to convincing India to abide by Indus Waters Treaty because Indian action is endangering regional peace and stability. Moreover, Prime Minister also talked about Makkah Agreement and said that it is not against any country. Prime Minister also discussed all regional issues especially Afghanistan originating terrorism. Pakistan is sad over Israeli injustices on Palestinians and Prime Minister expressed national sentiments in his speech on the issue of Palestine.  Actually, SCO summit is very important because bloc has emerged as a significant regional organization due to changing multipolar order. SCO is playing key role regional integration and cooperation and it is hoped that it will further play its effective role in future. All countries under SCO umbrella will progress in all social and economic sectors. SCO is also expanding with the passage of time in the form of observers and dialogue partners and it is key success of SCO. SCO expands over multi regions and observer countries will become permanent members of SCO. Chinese economic strength and Pakistan’s geographical force will play glowing role in regional economic development. Pakistan’s coercive diplomacy between US and Iran has also higher Pakistan’s international stature and it will help Prime Minister’s meetings with other regional leaders. Istanbul meeting is a great honor for Pakistan as Pakistan has been awarded leadership for three years. It is recognition of Pakistan’s importance in defence sector.

Amb. Waheed Ahmad (Former Diplomat): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s speech at Shanghai Cooperation Organization Council of Heads of State meeting reflected sentiments of all SCO member countries because it covered almost all issues confronted by the participating countries in the summit. Prime Minister’s presence at SCO summit and his meetings with other leaders have been very successful and productive. In these meetings, hopefully Prime Minister will touch upon the doubts about Makkah Agreement in which Pakistan has taken a leadership role. Prime Minister has briefed SCO Summit that Makkah Agreement is not against any country because agreement calls upon the internal security and progress of the members countries.  Moreover, Agreement is fundamentally defensive in nature and is neither directed against any state nor intended to create any confrontation or division with any country.  Prime Minister said that Pakistan's SCO chairmanship shall be pursued under well pronounced theme.