CURRENTLY, Islamabad asserts its role as the diplomatic hub of South Asia by hosting the SCO Summit, signalling a new chapter in Pakistan’s foreign policy and regional integration efforts. As a crucial member of the SCO, Pakistan spearheads this significant assembly of Asian nations committed to enhancing economic, political and security cooperation. The presence of leaders from member States, including Russia’s Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and China’s Premier Li Qiang, underscores Pakistan’s geostrategic significance in facilitating critical discussions on trade, security and cultural exchanges. Pakistan’s diligent preparations have fostered an environment conducive to effective and positive negotiations. By hosting this Summit, Pakistan reaffirms its strategic importance in the region and its commitment to regional prosperity. This gathering in Islamabad represents a shift towards deeper integration and connectivity, advocating a unified vision for Asia’s future, with Pakistan playing a central role.
Summit’s agenda: It’s seen as a way to bring people from different cultures together, bring their economies together or make the region safe. This year’s Summit aims to improve business cooperation between member countries. It plans to strengthen the trade interchange’s infrastructure and look into possible energy projects to help the area’s economy reach a new level. Another big topic of conversation is security, including ways to fight terrorism, make the area more stable and strengthen the cooperative defence program of SCO member states. The Summit also wants to improve cultural exchange, which will help people from different countries better understand each other within the SCO and make the organization more robust. Good things about this Summit, which is attended by heads of state and government and other top officials from SCO member countries. This shows that the SCO is an important place to meet. They are also a sign of how vital the Summit is diplomatically and that Pakistan is ready to host critical foreign talks whenever it wants to. The most influential leaders in the region need to be at this meeting to support and push for reaching the big goals set at the Summit, make sure that the changes that are being made have the support they need to be successful across the region and encourage a lot of cooperation.
Pakistan’s role and strategic importance: Since joining the SCO, Pakistan’s place within this organization has been diplomatic weightage and geopolitical location, making the country an irreplaceable part of the SCO system. It is located in a strategic position and provides a direct link between the South Asian and Central Asian regions for transit and trade. This position makes it possible for Pakistan to improve and play a strategic role in the transit of goods, energy and people across two vibrant regions as an active member of SCO in developing economic corridors like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. This corridor positively contributes to Pakistan’s economy and gives other SCO member states more direct access to international markets. In diplomacy, Pakistan uses its SCO membership to expand relations with other large neighbours, including China and Russia, and to navigate the tensions between India and the Central Asian republics. Thus, hosting the SCO Pakistan also signals that it is able and willing to take a leading role in regional problems, confirming its role as a mediator and cooperative partner in managing regional issues. It strengthens Pakistan’s diplomacy and shapes other regional policies and cooperation processes that benefit all members within the framework of the SCO.
Government initiatives and praise: It is pertinent to appreciate the efforts made by the government of Pakistan and state institutions to prepare for the event and host the SCO Summit. Several measures undertaken to create a conducive environment for productive discussions reflect Pakistan’s desire and its responsibility as the host of the SCO and its active members. Hosting such a credible international event speaks volumes about Pakistan’s management abilities to host and facilitate discourse on pertinent regional and global issues. With this in view, the government has adopted stringent security and logistical measures to enhance the holding of the Summit. Security measures include hiring thousands to ensure the venue and the surroundings are safe. These measures eliminate any security threats that may threaten the dignitaries and the delegates at the Summit so that the maximum focus can be achieved on the productive sessions of the Summit. The future of regional cooperation: The SCO Summit in Islamabad will undoubtedly drastically impact the further development of cooperation within the organization. It can establish an innovative plan for interstate relations for years ahead. The expected outcome of this Summit includes further discussions and decisions aimed at increasing economic cooperation, the development of security cooperation, and cultural interaction in the region. One of the main topics of the Summit is a resolution of the essential disturbances affecting the area, including trade restrictions, security risks, and cultural concerns, to create a stable foundation for enhanced Asian connections.
As the host of the SCO Summit, Pakistan has played a pivotal role in setting the pace for this crucial event in Islamabad. The opening meetings have brought together leaders and representatives from across the region, demonstrating Pakistan’s capability to manage and facilitate significant multilateral negotiations. The successful execution of this large-scale event highlights Pakistan’s commitment to fostering regional interaction and harmony. Moving forward, the Summit is expected to have a lasting impact on both Pakistan and the region, strengthening ties among SCO member states and advancing cooperation in economic, security and cultural spheres. For Pakistan, this successful organization enhances its international standing, offering new opportunities for economic growth and diplomatic engagement. The Summit not only boosts Pakistan’s recognition globally but also positions it as a key player in regional integration, enabling the country to strengthen its role in shaping the economic and strategic landscape of Asia. This event serves as a platform for Pakistan to deepen its involvement in the regional economy.
—The writer is Chairman, Tehrik Jawanan Pakistan.
(abdullahhamidgul1@gmail.com)
