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Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said water security is the “lifeblood” of the region and must never become a tool for political pressure or coercion.
Addressing the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State meeting in Bishkek on Tuesday, the prime minister called on countries to respect international agreements governing shared water resources.
“Water is the lifeblood of our region,” Shehbaz said. “It must never be weaponised.”
He said water treaties represent binding international commitments. Countries must honour them in both letter and spirit, he added.
The prime minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for peaceful dispute resolution, international law and the principles of the United Nations and SCO charters.
He said the SCO could help its members address growing regional challenges through cooperation and dialogue.
Shehbaz said Pakistan had consistently supported peace when the sovereignty and territorial integrity of an SCO member state came under threat earlier this year.
The resulting crisis disrupted critical energy supply routes and affected the global economy, he said. Pakistan also faced significant economic consequences from the disruption.
The prime minister said Pakistan had acted as an “honest and sincere mediator and facilitator” during the crisis.
He pointed to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding as an important diplomatic development. According to Shehbaz, the agreement could support regional de-escalation and help establish a lasting peace process.
He thanked countries that supported Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts.
Shehbaz also discussed Pakistan’s recently signed Trilateral Mecca Joint Defence Agreement.
He described the agreement as defensive in nature. He said it was not directed against any country and was not intended to create confrontation or division.
The prime minister also raised the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the West Bank.
He called for greater international efforts to support Palestinians and other oppressed communities in securing their right to self-determination.
Terrorism also featured prominently in the prime minister’s address.
Shehbaz described terrorism as one of the region’s biggest threats. He said Pakistan had worked to strengthen regional counter-terrorism cooperation while serving as chair of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure.
The prime minister said Pakistan had paid a heavy price in its fight against terrorism.
According to Shehbaz, the country lost more than 90,000 lives and suffered economic losses exceeding $150 billion over the past two and a half decades.
He said Pakistan’s sacrifices were aimed not only at protecting its own citizens but also at creating a safer region.
The prime minister said Pakistan wanted to see a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan.
However, he warned that lasting peace would remain difficult while militants continued to operate from Afghan territory and attack Pakistan.
“There must be no ambiguity,” Shehbaz said, linking regional peace to efforts against terrorism.
His comments come as security concerns involving Afghanistan remain an important issue for Pakistan and other countries in the region.
Shehbaz also called for greater regional connectivity among SCO members.
The SCO region is home to more than three billion people and has significant natural resources, he said. These factors create a major responsibility for member states to build a more prosperous future.
The prime minister said regional connectivity was no longer simply an economic option.
“Connectivity is no longer a choice. It is a strategic imperative,” he said.
He called for stronger transport networks, secure energy corridors and resilient supply chains.
Shehbaz also backed implementation of the SCO Development Strategy until 2035. He described the proposed SCO Development Bank as an important step towards achieving the organisation’s development goals.
As Pakistan assumes the SCO chairmanship, Shehbaz outlined several areas for cooperation.
The proposed action plan includes information technology and artificial intelligence, energy development, poverty reduction, disaster management, healthcare, culture and sports.
Pakistan also proposed an SCO sovereign AI infrastructure and governance framework.
Shehbaz said the framework would promote responsible and inclusive artificial intelligence development while ensuring that no member state falls behind.
Pakistan will pursue its SCO chairmanship under the theme: “Turning Vision into Action, Connectivity, Innovation and Shared Prosperity.”
The prime minister urged member states to choose cooperation over confrontation and dialogue over division.
He said stronger connectivity could bring communities closer, while innovation could create new economic opportunities.
Shehbaz concluded by calling on SCO members to work together to shape the changing global environment rather than simply respond to it.
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