ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is expected to raise the issue of cross border terrorism allegedly backed by India and the Afghan Taliban regime during the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Moscow next week, diplomatic sources confirmed on Thursday.
Although the SCO traditionally avoids bilateral disputes, officials say Pakistan plans to highlight these security threats as regional challenges, aiming to build support among like-minded member states. The summit, scheduled for November 17–18, will primarily focus on economic cooperation, but issues like terrorism and drug trafficking are also on the agenda.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar will represent Pakistan after being nominated by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who was formally invited to the meeting. Dar is expected to engage in key sideline meetings with Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, who will chair the 24th council session.
Sources also indicated that Dar may join a group meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin. Following the summit, he will travel to Brussels for high-level talks with Belgian and European Union officials.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has opted not to attend and will be represented by External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar.
The SCO, a 10 member regional bloc, includes the Regional Anti Terrorist Structure (RATS), which Pakistan believes provides a suitable platform to raise concerns over terrorism affecting regional peace and stability.
