Islamabad (GNP): Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus to Pakistan, Andrei Metelitsa, was among the dignitaries who attended the ceremony marking the 25th founding anniversary of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), hosted at Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The event brought together resident ambassadors of SCO member states based in Islamabad, gathering to commemorate the Organization’s quarter-century of contributions to regional stability, multilateral dialogue, and cooperative frameworks across the Eurasian region.
Pakistan Reaffirms Multilateral Commitment
Delivering the welcome address, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar articulated Pakistan’s unwavering support for multilateral cooperation. He described the SCO as an indispensable forum for advancing peace, security, economic connectivity, and collective prosperity across the region, and underscored Pakistan’s intent to remain an engaged and constructive member of the organization.
The SCO, established in 2001, currently counts among its members China, Russia, India, Pakistan, and four Central Asian republics, alongside other participating states. Pakistan has consistently maintained an active presence within SCO mechanisms focused on counter-terrorism cooperation, trade facilitation, and cultural exchange.
SCO’s Relevance in a Turbulent World
The ceremony took place against a backdrop of considerable global uncertainty. The international order is increasingly shaped by rising protectionist tendencies, unilateral decision-making, and deliberate attempts at economic decoupling, forces that continue to destabilize global trade and undermine multilateral frameworks. Meanwhile, power politics and the assertion of hegemonic interests persist in challenging the foundational norms of international law and cooperative governance.
In this context, the SCO’s model of consensus-based dialogue, partnership, and collective problem-solving positions it as a meaningful counterweight to instability, offering member states an alternative pathway grounded in shared interests rather than coercion.
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Pakistan’s Role Within the SCO
Pakistan’s engagement with the SCO extends well beyond formal membership. The country actively participates in joint military exercises, counter-terrorism operations, and intelligence-sharing arrangements that collectively strengthen the organization’s security architecture.
On the economic front, Pakistan’s SCO membership supports broader regional connectivity ambitions, particularly initiatives linking the country with Central Asia, China, and fellow member states. These linkages are generating employment, upgrading infrastructure, and opening new corridors for trade expansion that benefit both Pakistan and the wider region.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
