Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has left for Bishkek to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit 2026, marking a significant moment for Pakistan on the global diplomatic stage. During this visit, Pakistan is also expected to formally take over the SCO Council of Heads of State chairmanship for the 2026-2027 term, a role that will place Islamabad at the center of regional decision-making over the coming year.
Background of the SCO Summit 2026
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation was established in 2001 in Shanghai, growing out of the earlier “Shanghai Five” grouping formed in 1996 between China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. Since then, SCO members have expanded steadily. India and Pakistan joined in 2017, Iran became a full member in 2023, and Belarus joined in 2024, bringing the bloc’s membership to ten countries.
Today, SCO members collectively represent a large share of the world’s population and landmass, making the organisation one of the most influential regional security and economic platforms in Eurasia. The bloc’s mandate covers counterterrorism, trade, connectivity, and broader political cooperation among neighbouring states.
This year’s summit is being held in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, and comes at a time when the region is watching closely for signs of shifting alliances and evolving cooperation frameworks.
Details of PM Shehbaz’s Visit
According to Pakistan’s Foreign Office, PM Shehbaz Sharif is undertaking a three-day official visit to the Kyrgyz Republic, running from August 31 to September 2, at the invitation of Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov. The trip includes participation in the SCO Council of Heads of State meeting as well as a series of bilateral engagements with visiting world leaders.
The Pakistani delegation accompanying the Prime Minister includes Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Minister of Commerce Jam Kamal Khan, Minister of Communications Abdul Aleem Khan, and Minister of Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, along with other senior officials.
The SCO Council of Heads of State meeting itself is scheduled to take place in Bishkek, bringing together leaders including Russia’s Vladimir Putin, China’s Xi Jinping, India’s Narendra Modi, and Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian. An additional “SCO Plus” session is also planned, with leaders from Turkiye, Belarus, Mongolia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Togo expected to take part.
Notably, this summit brings together the Pakistani and Indian prime ministers at the same multilateral forum, a development that carries added weight given the strained bilateral relationship between the two countries. As of now, there has been no official confirmation of a separate one-on-one meeting between the two leaders on the sidelines.
Beyond the main summit, PM Shehbaz is also set to attend the opening ceremony of the World Nomad Games on August 31. On September 2, he will remain in Bishkek for a dedicated bilateral visit, holding formal talks with President Japarov on trade, energy, regional connectivity, education, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges between the two nations.
Statements from Officials
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed that Pakistan will assume the chairmanship of both the SCO and the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) within the coming months. He noted that Pakistan is scheduled to host the next SCO summit in 2027, an edition that will coincide with the bloc’s 25th anniversary since its founding in 2001.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office, in its official statement, said the two sides — Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan — will comprehensively review their bilateral relationship and explore new avenues of cooperation. The statement added that regional and international developments of mutual interest would also be discussed during the visit.
Impact of the SCO Summit 2026
For Pakistan, taking over the SCO chairmanship is more than a ceremonial gesture. It gives Islamabad a stronger platform to advance its priorities on regional connectivity, trade corridors, and counterterrorism cooperation, particularly given Pakistan’s geographic position linking South Asia with Central Asia.
The summit also carries broader regional significance. With India and Pakistan’s leaders attending the same forum amid ongoing tensions, and with Russia, China, and Iran also present, the Bishkek meeting is being closely watched as a barometer of shifting alignments across Eurasia.
Economically, the SCO platform offers Pakistan opportunities to deepen trade and investment ties with Central Asian states, China, and Russia. Analysts note that expanding connectivity projects through the SCO framework could open new trade routes and strengthen Pakistan’s regional economic standing over the next few years.
Conclusion
As PM Shehbaz Sharif participates in the SCO Summit 2026 in Bishkek, all eyes will be on Pakistan’s upcoming chairmanship and how it plans to shape the bloc’s agenda ahead of hosting the SCO Summit 2027. With major global leaders converging in one place, the coming days are likely to produce fresh diplomatic developments, particularly around regional security and economic cooperation. Further updates are expected once the summit’s official declarations and bilateral outcomes are announced.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many countries are in SCO?
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation currently has ten full member states: China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, and Belarus. Beyond these, the SCO also includes several observer states and a growing number of dialogue partners, reflecting its expanding role as a major Eurasian political and security bloc since it was established in 2001.
Did Pakistan attend the SCO Summit?
Yes, Pakistan is an active participant in the SCO Summit 2026, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif leading the country’s delegation to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Pakistan is also set to assume the SCO Council of Heads of State chairmanship for the 2026-2027 term during this visit, and it will go on to host the SCO Summit 2027, marking the organisation’s 25th anniversary.
What is the purpose of the SCO Summit?
The SCO Summit brings together heads of state from SCO members to discuss regional security, counterterrorism cooperation, trade, connectivity, and broader political coordination. The full form of SCO is the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, an intergovernmental body headquartered in Beijing, China, with its Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure based in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
