Islamabad MoU offers most viable, durable path to end US-Iran conflict: PM Shehbaz

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday described the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as the “most viable and sustainable pathway” to ending the ongoing conflict in between the US and Iran, saying it provides a broadly acceptable basis for all parties to pursue peace through dialogue and diplomacy.

Addressing the meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Plus in Bishkek, PM Shehbaz said Pakistan’s peace efforts over the past two years, during its tenure as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, had reached an important milestone with the signing of the Islamabad MoU, PM Office stated.

“The Islamabad MoU is the most viable and sustainable pathway to ending the ongoing conflict in the Middle East region and provides a broadly acceptable basis for all parties to achieve peace through negotiations and diplomacy,” the prime minister said.

PM Shehbaz said the agreement had marked a significant phase in Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts to promote peace and de-escalation in the region.

He added that Pakistan was also a signatory to the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, which, he said, had further strengthened prospects for regional peace by sending a clear message of unity and shared resolve.

“The agreement would also help create conditions conducive to development and prosperity across the region,” he said.

The prime minister said the world was currently passing through an era of unprecedented turbulence and transformation.

He recalled that the United Nations was established 80 years ago to translate into reality the universal dream of ending wars and conflicts and establishing lasting peace.

“Over the past eight decades, Pakistan has remained fully committed to and compliant with the UN Charter, viewing the organisation as an opportunity to help build a more equitable, democratic and just international order,” he said.

However, he stressed that the United Nations urgently needed reforms to make it more accountable, effective and responsive to the demands of a changing world.

As a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, Pakistan had played an active role in international peace efforts over the past two years, he said, reaffirming Islamabad’s commitment to multilateral diplomacy and peaceful resolution of conflicts.

Shehbaz calls for SCO unity, peace, connectivity

Earlier, addressing the SCO Council of Heads of State meeting here, PM Shehbaz called for greater cooperation, connectivity and peaceful resolution of disputes among SCO member states, saying the bloc must choose “cooperation over confrontation” amid growing geopolitical and economic challenges.

The prime minister said Pakistan took great pride in being part of the organisation as it marked 25 years of its journey.

He congratulated Kyrgyzstan on the successful completion of its SCO chairmanship and commended its contributions towards strengthening practical cooperation among member states.

He also felicitated the leadership and people of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan on their respective Independence Days.

“From a tender sapling, the SCO has grown into a towering tree providing the shade of security and stability to all of us,” the prime minister said.

He observed that the global landscape was currently marked by intensifying geopolitical tensions, fragmentation of the global economy, the escalating climate crisis and unprecedented technological transformation.

In such a complex environment, he said, the SCO represented the collective resolve of its members to confront these challenges together and deliver peace, security and prosperity to their peoples.

Prime Minister Shehbaz said Pakistan remained committed to the core principles of the United Nations and SCO charters, particularly the peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law.

He said Pakistan had consistently advocated peace when the sovereignty and territorial integrity of an SCO member state was violated earlier this year, triggering a major regional crisis.

The resulting disruption to energy supply routes had affected the global economy, he said, adding that Pakistan and the international community had consequently borne a heavy economic cost.

Pakistan, he maintained, had acted as an “honest and sincere mediator and facilitator” and its sustained diplomatic efforts had culminated in the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, which he described as a critical step towards regional de-escalation and restoration of peace.

“We firmly believe that the Islamabad MOU offers the most viable and enduring pathway to lasting peace in our region,” he said.

The prime minister expressed gratitude to friendly countries for their support during Pakistan’s peace-building efforts.

Referring to Pakistan’s recently signed trilateral Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, PM Shehbaz said the pact was “fundamentally defensive in nature”. He stressed that the agreement was not directed against any state and was not intended to create confrontation or division.

“Pakistan has always strived to strengthen multilateralism,” he said, while stressing that multilateral organisations must be empowered to translate aspirations into concrete action.

PM urges world to address Gaza crisis

The prime minister also drew attention to the continuing suffering of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.

He said Palestinian families, particularly mothers and children, continued to endure profound suffering, deprivation and injustice.

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

‘Water must never be weaponised’

Highlighting the importance of lasting peace in South Asia, Prime Minister Shehbaz said the region could not realise its full potential without stability.

He described water as the “lifeblood” of the region and warned against using shared water resources as an instrument of coercion or political leverage.

“The treaties governing our shared waters are solemn binding international commitments. They cannot be cast aside at will,” he said, urging that such agreements be honoured “unconditionally in both letter and spirit”.

The prime minister said terrorism remained one of the gravest threats facing the region and highlighted Pakistan’s role in strengthening regional counterterrorism cooperation as chair of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure.

He said Pakistan had sacrificed more than 90,000 lives and suffered economic losses of over $150 billion during the past two and a half decades in its fight against terrorism.

“These sacrifices were not for Pakistan alone. They were to ensure a safer and more secure region and beyond,” he said.

On Afghanistan, Prime Minister Shehbaz reiterated Pakistan’s desire for a peaceful, stable and prosperous neighbouring country.

“Let there be no ambiguity. So 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,” he said.

Connectivity now a ‘strategic imperative’

PM Shehbaz stressed that regional connectivity was central to the SCO’s future, saying it was no longer a choice but a “strategic imperative”.

He said the recent regional crisis had demonstrated the importance of diversified transport networks, secure energy corridors and resilient supply chains to collective security.

He highlighted the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as a gateway linking regional economies with the Arabian Sea and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to trans-regional railway projects, road connectivity initiatives and regional energy projects.

He also called for implementation of the SCO Development Strategy until 2035, describing the proposed establishment of an SCO Development Bank as a critical step in that direction.

As permanent chair of the SCO special working group on poverty reduction, Pakistan would continue working to strengthen social protection and promote inclusive and sustainable development across the region, he added.

Pakistan unveils priorities for SCO chairmanship

PM Shehbaz said Pakistan’s SCO chairmanship would focus on key sectors including information technology and artificial intelligence, energy development, poverty reduction, disaster management, health, culture and sports.

Pakistan has proposed the establishment of an SCO sovereign AI infrastructure and governance framework aimed at promoting responsible and inclusive AI development and ensuring that no member state is left behind.

He said Pakistan’s chairmanship would be pursued under the theme:

The prime minister expressed hope that stronger connectivity would bring the region’s peoples closer, innovation would create new opportunities and shared prosperity would reach communities across the SCO region.

“Let history record that the SCO chose cooperation over confrontation, dialogue over division, bridges over barriers and hope over fear,” he said.

“Let history record that the SCO not merely witnessed a changing world, but shaped it together.”

SCO leaders sign joint declaration

Following the address, PM Shehbaz and other participating leaders signed the joint declaration of the SCO meeting.

Earlier, Shehbaz arrived at the venue of the Council of Heads of State meeting in Bishkek, where he was warmly received by Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov. The two leaders shook hands before joining other participating leaders for a group photograph, followed by the formal proceedings.

The meeting was chaired by President Zhaparov as Kyrgyzstan completed its rotating SCO presidency for 2025–26.

PM Shehbaz has now assumed Pakistan’s chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State for 2026–27.

The summit was attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, among other leaders.

The prime minister is accompanied on his visit to Bishkek by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan, Communications Minister Abdul Aleem Khan, Information and Broadcasting Minister Attaullah Tarar and senior officials.