Pakistan pledges stronger bilateral cooperation with Belarus, Central Asian states outside SCO

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Saturday reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to stronger bilateral cooperation during meetings with his Belarusian, Kazakh, Tajik and Uzbek counterparts on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Council of Foreign Ministers (SCO-CFM) meeting in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), the Foreign Minister met with his Belarusian counterpart Maxim Ryzhenkov, and both sides reviewed bilateral relations and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in a variety of sectors.

“The two ministers also looked forward to the ninth session of the Pakistan-Belarus Joint Ministerial Commission, to be held in Pakistan in Islamabad on August 11-12, 2026, as well as high-level exchanges,” he added.

The statement said the two leaders discussed ways to expand economic and trade cooperation, deepen collaboration in defense, agriculture, technology and workforce exchange, and reaffirmed their commitment to the Roadmap for Comprehensive Cooperation 2025-2027.

He added that Foreign Minister Dar and Ryzhenkov “also exchanged views on regional developments and issues of mutual interest”, with the Belarusian Foreign Minister appreciating Pakistan’s “constructive role in facilitating dialogue during the US-Iran situation” and praising Islamabad’s continued efforts to promote regional peace and security.

In a separate meeting, Foreign Minister Dar met his Kazakh counterpart Yermek Kosherbayev to review the “positive momentum” in bilateral relations following Belarusian President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s visit to Pakistan earlier this year.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two ministers “reaffirmed their commitment to implementing the understandings reached, including the 37 MoUs signed during the visit.”

“They agreed to intensify cooperation in trade, investment, transportation and regional connectivity, energy, exchanges between peoples and in multilateral forums,” added the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Meanwhile, they also exchanged views on regional and global developments, reiterating their shared commitment to peace, stability and prosperity.

Kosherbayev appreciated Pakistan’s efforts to promote regional peace and diplomacy and invited Foreign Minister Dar to visit Kazakhstan, which he graciously accepted at a mutually convenient time, the Foreign Ministry concluded.

In his meeting with Tajikistan’s Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin, Foreign Minister Dar and the minister “reaffirmed the close, fraternal and long-standing ties between Pakistan and Tajikistan.”

The two also “expressed their shared commitment to further expand cooperation in trade, investment, connectivity, energy, culture and people-to-people exchanges,” the Foreign Ministry said.

Furthermore, Foreign Minister Dar and Muhriddin “underlined the importance of sustained high-level exchanges to further strengthen the bilateral partnership”, with the latter reaffirming Tajikistan’s support for Islamabad’s continued efforts to promote peace, stability and peaceful resolution of regional issues.

“The two leaders also exchanged views on regional and global developments and emphasized the importance of cooperation in multilateral forums to promote peace, stability and prosperity,” the foreign ministry said.

The meeting with Uzbekistan Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov, Foreign Minister Dar and the minister “reaffirmed the strength of the Pakistan-Uzbekistan strategic partnership and reviewed the progress in bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, connectivity, energy, culture and people-to-people exchanges.”

The ministers also “emphasized the importance of sustained high-level exchanges and closer engagement between the business communities of both countries to further expand economic ties.”

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Minister Dar and Saidov discussed cooperation in regional and multilateral forums and recalled President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s successful visit to Pakistan earlier this year, underlining “the importance of translating understandings reached during the visit into tangible results through timely implementation.”

Furthermore, the two sides “also exchanged views on regional and global developments”, with Saidov appreciating Islamabad’s diplomatic efforts to promote regional peace and stability, including its role in facilitating Islamabad’s MoU.

“Both sides expressed hope that dialogue and diplomacy will continue to pave the way for lasting peace and regional stability,” the Foreign Ministry said.

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“Dar’s visit provided an opportunity not only to underline Pakistan’s historical ties with SCO member states but also to reaffirm its readiness to assume the SCO presidency for 2026-27 and promote the SCO agenda for socio-economic cooperation for mutual benefit,” he said.

During his visit, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted, Dar “attended an informal dinner at the ‘Nomad’ Cultural Center, organized by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan, Zheenbek Moldokanovich Kulubaev, in honor of the visiting dignitaries.”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recalled that Dar also visited the Kyrgyz president, Sadyr Nurgozhoevich Zhaparov, to whom he conveyed the greetings of the leaders of Pakistan. During the meeting, Dar also “expressed Pakistan’s desire to work closely with the Kyrgyz side to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in various fields.”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that Dar later led the Pakistani delegation at the SCO-CFM, where he delivered the Islamabad national declaration, “reiterating the country’s unwavering commitment to the SCO Charter as well as the ‘Shanghai Spirit’, which represents mutual trust, mutual respect, shared prosperity and development.”

Dar also conveyed Pakistan’s readiness to take over the presidency of the SCO Council of Heads of State (CHS) in September, the MoFA said, noting that the foreign minister invited all SCO member states to Pakistan for the CHS Summit next year.