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Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Kyrgyzstan to attend the SCO summit and hold bilateral talks. The visit positions Pakistan to take the SCO Council chairmanship and push deeper ties with Bishkek.
Islamabad,UPDATED: Aug 31, 2026 16:02 IST
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Kyrgyzstan on Monday for a three-day visit during which he will attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit and hold bilateral talks. The visit is taking place at the invitation of Kyrgyz President Sadyr Nurgozhoevich Zhaparov, Pakistan's foreign office said.
The foreign office said, "The visit will include participation in the SCO Council of Heads of State meeting, as well as bilateral engagements in the Kyrgyz Republic." During his stay in Bishkek, Sharif will also take part in the SCO Plus Summit and assume Pakistan's chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State for 2026-2027.
The 10-member SCO was founded in 2001 by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. India and Pakistan joined as full members in 2017, followed by Iran in 2023 and Belarus in 2024.
On the sidelines of the SCO meetings, Sharif will hold bilateral meetings with leaders of participating countries and attend the opening ceremony of the World Nomad Games on Monday. On Wednesday, he is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with President Zhaparov on the full range of Pakistan-Kyrgyzstan ties.
The two sides are expected to discuss ways to deepen cooperation, particularly in trade and investment, energy, regional connectivity, education, tourism and people-to-people exchanges. The two leaders will also exchange views on regional and international developments of mutual interest and cooperation at regional and multilateral forums.
According to the foreign office, the visit provides 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". Sharif is accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan, Communication Minister Abdul Aleem Khan, Information Minister Ataullah Tarar and senior officials.
The visit will see Sharif attend key SCO meetings, take over Pakistan's chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State for 2026-2027, and hold talks aimed at expanding cooperation between Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan.
With PTI Inputs
- Ends
Published By:
India Today Web Desk
Published On:
Aug 31, 2026 16:02 IST
