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<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ISLAMABAD: Pakistan assumed chairmanship of&nbsp;<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" id="isPasted">Shanghai Cooperation Organization&rsquo;s Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (SCO-RATS) for 2025&ndash;26, pledging enhanced regional cooperation against terrorism,&nbsp;<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" id="isPasted">the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Wednesday.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The decision was made at the 44th meeting of the council in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyz Republic, where member states agreed to hand over the leadership to Pakistan.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">&ldquo;This is a reflection of the confidence of SCO member states in Pakistan&rsquo;s dedicated efforts and contributions towards regional peace and security, particularly in combating terrorism,&rdquo; the Foreign Office said in a statement.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1965752242977603714&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2F&sessionId=e9ef7ac3249b124ed6420d600ca9d2d288eeddef&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 875px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div><span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FO added that Pakistan, in its new role, would &ldquo;work towards fostering regional cooperation against terrorism, in line with shared priorities, guided by the Shanghai Spirit of mutual trust, equality, and shared responsibility.&rdquo;<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As chair, Pakistan said it will host events on &ldquo;cyber counter-terrorism, information operations, border security, countering terrorist financing, and capacity-building to deepen collaboration.&rdquo;Pakistan has made &#39;<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" id="isPasted">unparalleled sacrifices&#39;<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FO also stressed Pakistan&rsquo;s frontline role in the fight against terrorism, noting the country has &ldquo;made unparalleled sacrifices to ensure safety and security not only of its own people but the region and beyond.&rdquo;<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The statement further underlined Pakistan&rsquo;s role as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for 2025-26, saying the country has been &ldquo;entrusted with key responsibilities in the counterterrorism domain.&rdquo;<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">&ldquo;Pakistan will continue to work with international and regional partners to advance collective efforts against terrorism, in line with the principles of the SCO, international law and the United Nations Charter,&rdquo; the statement said.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Despite frequent political frictions, particularly between Pakistan and India, that have limited SCO-RATS progress in past years, Islamabad reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening cooperation.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The RATS Council also endorsed plans for new expert groups and joint information campaigns against international terrorist organizations next year.&nbsp;<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It condemned recent attacks in member states and voiced concern over strikes on civilian facilities and Iran&rsquo;s nuclear energy infrastructure, echoing language in the Tianjin Declaration adopted at the 2025 SCO summit.SCO succcessor to Shanghai Five<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Shanghai Cooperation Organization is a Eurasian political, economic, and security alliance founded in 2001, evolving from the &ldquo;Shanghai Five&rdquo; grouping of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pakistan became a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in June 2017, after serving as an observer since 2005. Its participation underscores Islamabad&rsquo;s strategic interest in regional peace, security, and economic integration.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The most recent summit was held in Tianjin, China, in September 2025, marking the 25th meeting of the Council of Heads of State. Key outcomes included Belarus&rsquo; admission as a full member, adoption of a 10-year development strategy, and the announcement of four security centers and an SCO development bank. Chinese President Xi Jinping also pledged billions in aid and training opportunities.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS), based in Tashkent, was established to coordinate efforts against terrorism, separatism, and extremism. Its activities include intelligence sharing, building databases of banned groups, conducting joint drills, and facilitating extradition agreements.

Economy

Pakistan assumes chair of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s anti-terror body, pledging stronger regional cooperation on counterterrorism for 2025–26.

Pakistan assumes chair of SCO anti-terror body

BEIJING: Pakistan and China signed bilateral agreements worth $8.5 billion on Thursday across various sectors, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif describing it as a &ldquo;long march of economic growth.&rdquo; Chinese and Pakistani companies signed $7 billion in memoranda of understanding (MoU) and $1.54 billion in joint ventures at the Second Pakistan-China B2B Investment Conference in Beijing. Sectors covered include agriculture, electric vehicles (EVs), solar energy, health, chemicals, petrochemicals, iron, and steel. In his address, the Pakistani PM announced the launch of CPEC 2.0, aimed at attracting investment into diverse sectors and creating job opportunities. He assured Chinese investors that bureaucratic delays would be eliminated. Describing the forum as a reflection of the &ldquo;iron-clad brotherhood&rdquo; between Pakistan and China, Mr. Shehbaz stated that Pakistan was committed to investor facilitation and security for Chinese nationals. &ldquo;The safety of Chinese citizens is paramount,&rdquo; he said. The Pakistani PM praised China&rsquo;s transformative influence on Pakistan&rsquo;s energy and infrastructure. He noted that Pakistan overcame severe power outages thanks to China&rsquo;s support.He also pledged to focus CPEC 2.0 on business-to-business investments in agriculture, IT, artificial intelligence, minerals, and industrial relocation. Highlighting the importance of special economic zones for attracting investment, Sharif called for Chinese partnerships to modernize Pakistan&rsquo;s agriculture. Over 60% of the country&rsquo;s population is employed in the agriculture sector. The Pakistani PM recalled his first visit to China in 1982. He lauded China&rsquo;s economic rise and leadership under President Xi Jinping, stating he was committed to replicating China&rsquo;s development model to transform Pakistan&rsquo;s economy. The conference was attended by senior Chinese and Pakistani officials, including Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Pakistan&rsquo;s Ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi, and Chinese trade representatives.

The deals aim to boost investment, job creation, and economic growth 

Articles tagged with "CPEC"

Pakistan assumes chair of SCO anti-terror body

CPEC 2.0: Pakistan, China sign $8.5 billion economic deals