Pakistan promises stronger bilateral cooperation with Belarus, Central Asian states on the SCO sidelines

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Saturday reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to stronger bilateral cooperation during meetings with its Belarusian, Kazakh, Tajik and Uzbek counterparts on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Council of Foreign Ministers (SCO-CFM) meeting in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), the foreign minister met his Belarusian counterpart, Maxim Ryzhenkov, where the two sides reviewed bilateral relations and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation across a range of sectors.

“The two ministers also looked forward to the ninth session of the Pakistan-Belarus Joint Ministerial Commission to be hosted by Pakistan in Islamabad on August 11-12, 2026, as well as high-level exchanges,” it added.

The statement said the two leaders discussed ways to expand economic and trade cooperation, deepen cooperation in defense, agriculture, technology and labor exchange, and reaffirmed their commitment to the Roadmap for Comprehensive Cooperation 2025-2027.

It added that FM Dar and Ryzhenkov “also exchanged views on regional development and issues of common interest,” with the Belarusian FM appreciating Pakistan’s “constructive role in facilitating dialogue during the US-Iran situation” and praising Islamabad’s continued efforts to promote regional peace and security.

In a separate meeting, FM Dar met with his Kazakh counterpart Yermek Kosherbayev, where he reviewed the “positive momentum” in bilateral relations following Belarusian President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s visit to Pakistan earlier this year.

According to the MoFA, the two ministers reaffirmed their commitment to implement the agreements reached, including the 37 MoUs signed during the visit.

“They agreed to intensify cooperation in trade, investment, transport and regional relations, energy, people-to-people exchanges and in multilateral fora,” MoFA added.

Meanwhile, they also exchanged views on regional and global developments and reiterated their shared commitment to peace, stability and prosperity.

Appreciating Pakistan’s efforts to promote regional peace and diplomacy, Kosherbayev invited FM Dar to visit Kazakhstan, which he graciously accepted at a mutually convenient time, MoFA concluded.

In his meeting with Tajikistan’s Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin, FM Dar and the minister reaffirmed the long-standing, brotherly and close ties between Pakistan and Tajikistan.

The two also “expressed their shared commitment to further expand cooperation in trade, investment, connectivity, energy, culture and people-to-people exchanges,” MoFA said.

Furthermore, FM Dar and Muhriddin “underlined the importance of sustained high-level exchanges to further strengthen the bilateral partnership,” with the latter reaffirming Tajikistan’s support for Islamabad’s continued efforts to promote peace, stability and peaceful resolution of regional issues.

“The two leaders also exchanged views on regional and global developments and emphasized the importance of cooperation in multilateral fora to promote peace, stability and prosperity,” MoFA said.

The meeting with Uzbekistan’s Foreign Minister, Bakhtiyor Saidov, FM Dar and the minister “affirmed the strength of the strategic partnership between Pakistan and Uzbekistan and reviewed progress in bilateral cooperation across trade, investment, connectivity, energy, culture and people-to-people exchanges.”

The ministers “also underlined the importance of continued high-level exchanges and closer engagement between the business community of both countries to further expand economic ties.”

According to the MoFA, FM Dar and Saidov discussed cooperation at regional and multilateral forums and recalled President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s successful visit to Pakistan earlier this year, emphasizing “the importance of translating the understandings gained during the visit into tangible results through timely implementation.”

Further, the two sides “also exchanged views on regional and global development,” with Saidov appreciating Islamabad’s diplomatic efforts to promote regional peace and stability, including its role in facilitating the Islamabad MoU.

“Both sides expressed hope that dialogue and diplomacy would continue to pave the way for lasting peace and regional stability,” MoFA said.

In a separate post on X, MoFA shared the details of FM Dar’s visit to Kyrgyzstan where he participated in the SCO-CFM

“Dar’s visit provided an opportunity not only to emphasize Pakistan’s historic ties with the SCO member states, but also to confirm the country’s readiness to assume the chairmanship of the SCO for 2026-27 and to advance the SCO agenda of socio-economic cooperation for mutual benefit,” it said.

During his visit, MoFA noted, Dar attended an informal dinner at the ‘Nomad’ cultural center hosted by Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Zheenbek Moldokanovich Kulubaev, in honor of the visiting dignitaries.

MoFA recalled that Dar also addressed Kyrgyz President Sadyr Nurgozhoevich Zhaparov, conveying greetings from Pakistan’s leadership. During the meeting, Dar also expressed “Pakistan’s desire to work closely with the Kyrgyz side to further strengthen bilateral cooperation across various fields.”

The MoFA noted that Dar then led the Pakistani delegation to the SCO-CFM, where he delivered Islamabad’s national declaration, “reiterating the country’s unwavering commitment to the SCO Charter, as well as the ‘Shanghai Spirit’, which stands for mutual trust, mutual respect, shared prosperity and development.”

Dar also conveyed Pakistan’s readiness to assume the chairmanship of the SCO Council of State (CHS) in September, MoFA said, noting that the foreign minister invited all SCO member states to Pakistan for the CHS summit next year.