PM Shehbaz, Iranian president discuss regional peace, bilateral ties on SCO sidelines

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Monday held a meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State meeting in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, with the two leaders discussing bilateral ties and regional developments.

The meeting was attended by Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Special Assistant to Prime Minister Syed Tariq Fatemi and Foreign Secretary Ambassador Amna Baloch. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and other senior officials also participated.

During the meeting, the two leaders reaffirmed the close and longstanding ties between Pakistan and Iran and stressed the need to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in various areas, in line with understandings reached during President Pezeshkian’s visit to Pakistan in June.

They also reviewed efforts to enhance regional connectivity and people-to-people contacts.

The two leaders exchanged views on the evolving regional situation, with Prime Minister Shehbaz reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to sincere diplomatic efforts aimed at promoting regional peace and stability.

The prime minister said Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir’s recent visit to Tehran and his constructive engagements were a positive development in this regard.

He stressed the importance of restraint and sustained diplomatic engagement to achieve lasting peace and stability in the region.

Shehbaz also called for building on the understandings reached under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), describing it as the only viable pathway towards enduring regional peace.

President Pezeshkian appreciated Pakistan’s consistent diplomatic efforts for regional peace and security.

The Iranian president highlighted the enduring strength of Pakistan-Iran relations, which he said were rooted in centuries of shared history, culture and faith. He reaffirmed Tehran’s desire to further expand cooperation with Pakistan across various sectors.

Pezeshkian also stressed the need for unity among the Muslim Ummah to address contemporary challenges.

During the meeting, PM Shehbaz invited the Iranian president to undertake an official visit to Pakistan at his earliest convenience.

President Pezeshkian, in turn, invited Prime Minister Shehbaz to attend the upcoming Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Summit scheduled to be held in Tehran in December 2026.

PM reaches Kyrgyzstan to attend SCO Summit

PM Shehbaz earlier today arrived in the Kyrgyz Republic on a three-day official visit from till Wednesday, at the invitation of President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Nurgozhoevich Zhaparov.

Upon his arrival in Bishkek, PM Shehbaz was received by the Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan, Adylbek Kasymaliev, the PM Office stated.

During the visit, the prime minister will participate in the SCO Council of Heads of State meeting, as well as bilateral engagements in the Kyrgyz Republic.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan, Minister for Communication Abdul Aleem Khan, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, and senior officials will accompany the prime minister.

Prime Minister Shehbaz will participate in the meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Council of Heads of State and the SCO Plus Summit, besides assuming Pakistan’s Chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State (CHS) for 2026–2027.

On the sidelines of the SCO engagements, he will hold bilateral meetings with leaders of participating countries and also attend the opening ceremony of the World Nomad Games being held today.

On September 2, the prime minister will hold bilateral discussions with President Zhaparov on the entire spectrum of Pakistan-Kyrgyzstan relations.

The two sides will comprehensively review Pakistan-Kyrgyzstan relations and discuss ways to further deepen bilateral cooperation, particularly in trade and investment, energy, regional connectivity, education, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.

The leaders will also exchange views on regional and international developments of mutual interest and cooperation at regional and multilateral fora.

Pakistan and the Kyrgyz Republic enjoy warm and fraternal relations, rooted in shared history, faith, and cultural affinity, as well as common aspirations for peace, connectivity, and prosperity in Central and South Asia.

The visit will provide an important opportunity to consolidate the momentum generated by recent high-level exchanges, translate political goodwill into enhanced practical cooperation, and further strengthen the enduring partnership between Pakistan and the Kyrgyz Republic.