At the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif cautioned that credible evidence points to foreign involvement in recent terrorist attacks in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including the assault on the Jaffar Express. He said terrorism and extremism threaten the entire region, stressing that both perpetrators and their facilitators must be held accountable.
President of China H.E. Xi Jinping welcomes Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif at the 25th SCO Heads of States Council Meeting in Tianjin on 1 September 2025.#PakistanAtSCO #SCOSummit2025 #SCO2025 #PakChinaFriendship pic.twitter.com/Wg8notwqOk
— Prime Minister’s Office (@PakPMO) September 1, 2025
The premier accused certain states of exploiting terrorism as a political weapon, but maintained that their “false narratives” have lost credibility. Recalling Pakistan’s sacrifices in the war on terror—where over 90,000 lives were lost—he underscored the urgent need for collective action against the menace.
Sharif reaffirmed that Pakistan seeks dialogue, not confrontation, with its neighbors and called for comprehensive talks to achieve lasting peace in South Asia. He highlighted Afghanistan’s stability as crucial for regional security and prosperity, expressing hope that trilateral engagements would strengthen Pakistan-Afghanistan relations.
Regional Cooperation and Pakistan’s Resilience
The prime minister strongly condemned Israel’s ongoing aggression in Gaza, reaffirming Pakistan’s support for the UN-backed two-state solution as the only viable path to peace. He described the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as “an unending wound on our collective conscience.”
H.E. President Masoud Pezeshkian in the meeting with H.E. Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on the sideline of #SCO in #China:
There’s No Distance between both #Iranian and #Pakistani Government and Nation.#Iran #Pakistan pic.twitter.com/gZoDXtFoxV
— Embassy of Islamic Republic of Iran- Islamabad (@IraninIslamabad) September 1, 2025
Acknowledging China’s role in the region, Sharif praised President Xi Jinping’s leadership and described the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as a practical model of cooperation. He lauded Tianjin as a symbol of China’s cultural and economic dynamism, reflecting SCO’s spirit of integration.
Turning to Pakistan’s domestic challenges, he drew attention to the devastating floods and climate risks the country faces due to global warming. Despite these setbacks, he highlighted Pakistan’s “remarkable economic recovery” over the past 18 months, with reduced inflation, a current account surplus, and a rising stock market.
Concluding his address, Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to the SCO Charter and urged the 3.5 billion people of member states to join hands for peace, stability, and prosperity.