CHOLPON-ATA, Kyrgyz Republic: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister arrived in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyz Republic on Thurdsay to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Council of Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.
Upon his arrival, the Deputy Prime Minister was received by Kyrgyz Deputy Foreign Minister Kairat Tursunkulov, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Altamash Wazir, Pakistan’s National Coordinator for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Dr. Muhammad Faisal, and senior officials of Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a Foreign Office statement said.
Later this evening, the Deputy Prime Minister will attend the informal dinner of the SCO Foreign Ministers, where they will exchange views and discuss the agenda ahead of tomorrow’s Council of Foreign Ministers Meeting.
Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 arrived in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyz Republic, this evening to participate in the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers Meeting.
Upon arrival, he was received by Deputy Foreign Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic… pic.twitter.com/04HfQYL7Vr
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) July 23, 2026
Deputy PM Dar is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts from SCO member states on the sidelines of the meeting.
The Foreign Ministers of all SCO member states, including Pakistan, China, Belarus, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, will participate in the CFM meeting.
The CFM is the third-highest forum in the SCO format. It focuses on the issues of international relations, as well as the foreign and security policies of the SCO.
Deputy Prime Minister will call on the President of the Kyrgyz Republic
During his visit, the Deputy Prime Minister will also call on the President of the Kyrgyz Republic and hold many bilateral meetings with his counterparts from SCO member states on the sidelines of the CFM meeting, state-run Radio Pakistan reported.
Ishaq Dar arrived in the Kyrgyz Republic after attending the 33rd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Ministerial Meeting in Manila, Philippines.
Earlier, he expressed his appreciation and gratitude to the Philippine Government and the ASEAN Regional Forum team for the gracious hospitality accorded to him and his delegation during their visit to Manila.
Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50, after the conclusion of his successful visit to Manila for the 33rd ARF, has departed for Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyz Republic, to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Foreign… pic.twitter.com/jKNwkZXFGV
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) July 23, 2026
Pakistan to assume SCO Chairmanship in September
Pakistan will assume the rotating chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State on 1 September 2026, when Kyrgyzstan formally hands over the presidency at the conclusion of the SCO Heads of State Summit in Bishkek.
The 2026 SCO Summit will be held in the Kyrgyz capital from 31 August to 1 September, bringing together the leaders of the organisation’s ten member states for high-level deliberations on regional security, economic integration, connectivity, trade, energy cooperation, digital transformation, and people-to-people exchanges.
Also Read: Pakistan to Assume Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Chairmanship in September
Preparations for the summit are already in full swing under Kyrgyzstan’s chairmanship, with a series of ministerial, senior officials’, and expert-level meetings being held throughout 2026 to finalise the summit agenda and key policy initiatives.
Collectively, the bloc represents around 40 percent of the world’s population and accounts for a substantial share of global economic output, making it one of the largest regional organisations by geographic coverage and population.
Since becoming a full member in 2017, Pakistan has steadily strengthened its engagement within the organisation. It successfully hosted the SCO Council of Heads of Government Meeting in Islamabad in 2024 and is currently holding the chairmanship of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) for 2025-26.
Pakistan has also played an active role within the organisation, including hosting the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting in Islamabad in October 2024. The country is currently chairing the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure for the 2025-26 term.
