Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said Pakistan remains committed to resolving disputes peacefully through international law, adhering strictly to the guidelines of the UN and the SCO charter.

Addressing the SCO Council of Heads of State meeting in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan today, he mentioned that it is in this spirit that Pakistan staunchly advocated peace when the sovereignty and territorial integrity of an SCO member state was violated earlier this year, triggering a major regional crisis.

The Prime Minister said the closure of critical energy supply routes due to this crisis has disrupted the global economy. Consequently, Pakistan along with international community has borne a heavy economic cost. In these challenging times, Pakistan has persistently acted as an honest and sincere mediator and facilitator.

He said our sustained diplomatic efforts culminated in the signing of the landmark Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding for regional de-escalation and restoration of peace. He said as our peacebuilding efforts continue, Pakistan extends its deepest gratitude to the brotherly and friendly countries for their unwavering support throughout this endeavour.

Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan firmly believes that Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding offers the most viable and enduring pathway to lasting peace in the region.

Alluding to the signing of the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement, the Prime Minister said it is fundamentally defensive in nature and is neither directed against any state nor intended to create any confrontation or division whatsoever. 

Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan has always strived to strengthen multilateralism, emphasizing that multilateral organizations must be empowered to translate aspirations into actions.

Highlighting the plight of Palestinian people, he said the international community must honour its commitment to help the Palestinian people alongside all other oppressed nations secure their fundamental right to self-determination.

The Prime Minister emphasized that South Asia cannot realize its full potential without lasting peace. He emphasized that water must never be weaponized and it cannot be used as an instrument of coercion, nor it can ever be exploited for political leverage. He said water treaties must be honored unconditionally in letter and spirit.

Highlighting the sacrifices of Pakistan in the war on terrorism, the Prime Minister said we have sacrificed over ninety thousand lives and endured an economic loss of over one hundred and fifty billion dollars over the past two and a half decades in combating terrorism. He said these sacrifices were not for Pakistan alone, they were to ensure a safer and more secured region and beyond.

He said Pakistan seeks a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan. He, however, said that as long as terrorists continue to use Afghan territory to shed the blood of innocent Pakistanis and other nationals, lasting peace will remain beyond our reach.

Highlighting the potential of cooperation amongst the SCO member states, the Prime Minister described regional connectivity as a key to the prosperity. He mentioned that CPEC continues to serve as a gateway linking the regional economies to the Arabian Sea. He said we remain equally committed to advancing trans-regional railway projects, road connectivity initiatives as well as regional energy projects.

As Pakistan assumes the chairmanship of the SCO, the Prime Minister proposed an action plan that shall prioritize key sectors including IT and AI, energy, development and poverty reduction, disaster management, health, culture and sports. He proposed to establish an SCO sovereign AI infrastructure and governance framework to promote responsible and inclusive AI development and to ensure that no member state is left behind. 

He said Pakistan's SCO chairmanship shall be pursued under the theme, “Turning Vision into Action, Connectivity, Innovation and Shared Prosperity.”  He said Pakistan takes this responsibility with hope and abiding faith that connectivity will bring our peoples closer, innovation will open new doors of opportunities and shared prosperity will reach every home.

The Prime Minister and other leaders also signed the joint declaration of the SCO meeting.