Foreign dignitaries have begun arriving in Islamabad for preparatory meetings ahead of Pakistan’s hosting of the 23rd Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit on October 15-16. Stringent security measures have been put in place for the event.
A four-member Indian delegation, 76 Russian delegates, 15 representatives from China, a two-member team from Iran, and a four-member delegation from Kyrgyzstan arrived in Islamabad.
Additionally, seven delegates from the SCO have also reached the capital for the summit.
The Pakistan Army has been called in to provide security for the event, ensuring protection of key government buildings and overseeing the security of the Red Zone. Rangers have also been deployed across the capital to assist with security.
Over 10,000 police personnel have been deployed by the federal government to secure the approximately 900 delegates attending the summit.
The metro bus service between Islamabad and Rawalpindi will be suspended during the summit. The government has also announced three days of public holidays for offices, schools, and commercial centers in Islamabad.
All wedding halls in the city will remain closed to ensure smooth proceedings for the summit.
Deputy PM Ishaq Dar remarks ahead of SCO Summit
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar announced on Sunday that all preparations for hosting the Council of Heads of Government (CHG) of the SCO meeting have been completed.
After reviewing the arrangements, Mr. Dar shared that certain countries, excluding India, have requested bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit, which have been finalized.
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar accompanied Mr. Dar on a walk with reporters, providing firsthand details about the preparations for the event.
Mr. Dar urged the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party to call off its planned protest on October 15 for the sake of national interest. He advised PTI against repeating the events of 2014, which led to the postponement of a visit by the Chinese president due to their protests.
Regarding Afghanistan’s participation, Mr. Dar explained that the country’s Observer Status has been effectively suspended since 2021, and decisions about its involvement are made collectively by SCO member states, not unilaterally by Pakistan.
Mr. Dar further emphasized that regional integration and peace are core goals for the PML-N leadership and vital for the entire region.
He also dismissed claims of Pakistan’s diplomatic isolation, pointing to the country’s status as a hub for regional trade and investment, citing recent visits by the Malaysian prime minister and a Saudi delegation as evidence.
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