India joins SCO meeting in Islamabad to prepare for 2027 leaders' summit

Islamabad: India is among the countries attending a three-day meeting of the National Coordinators of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), which commenced in Islamabad on Monday to prepare for the next year's Council of Heads of State summit.

The SCO member states included Russia, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Belarus and China.

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The delegation from India, a key member of the SCO, is being led by its National Coordinator Alok Dimri.

Pakistan's National Coordinator Mohammad Faisal is chairing the deliberations, aiming to firm up cooperation, coordination, and preparations for the SCO Heads of State summit scheduled to be held in Islamabad in August 2027.

The Indian delegation has been visiting Islamabad for the meeting, which is the first such visit after last year's brief conflict.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar led India's delegation to Islamabad on October 15-16, 2024, for the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting.

Earlier, the Pakistani foreign minister said in a statement that the meeting from September 28 to 30 will discuss a "wide range of issues relating to SCO cooperation and coordination", including the "programme of activities under Pakistan's Chairmanship", preparations for upcoming SCO meetings and events, and other matters on the organisation's agenda.

Pakistan, which holds the chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State for 2026-27, would seek to advance the organisation's objectives under the theme "Turning Vision into Action: Connectivity, Innovation and Shared Prosperity", according to the FO.

"In this regard, Pakistan's Chairmanship would focus on promoting greater connectivity, fostering innovation, enhancing economic cooperation, and strengthening people-to-people contacts," the FO said.

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It said the aim would be to translate the shared vision of member states into practical and mutually beneficial initiatives. "Pakistan would work closely with all Member States and the SCO Secretariat to advance these priorities and further strengthen cooperation within the SCO," it said.

The CNC meeting will therefore provide an early forum for coordination among member states as Pakistan begins its programme of activities as chair of the SCO Council of Heads of State, the FO said.

According to the statement, the meeting would contribute to preparations for various high-level engagements and activities during Pakistan's chairmanship, including the August 2027 meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State.