SCO Summit 2025: Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Monday raised the issue of Indus Water Agreement (IWT) at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in China and emphasized the need for structural dialogue on all pending disputes. He said that all SCO member countries should respect international and bilateral treaties.
Shahbaz Sharif arrived in China on Saturday, where the SCO’s Heads of State (CHS) meeting was held from 31 August to 1 September. Apart from Pakistan, this organization includes China, India, Russia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Belarus. Apart from this, 16 other countries are connected as supervisors or dialogues partners.
Indirect tanj and IWT dispute over India
At the SCO Summit, Shahbaz Sharif gave an indirect reference to India’s move to temporarily stop the Indus Water Agreement in April, saying that all countries should follow the same principles. He emphasized that continuous access to water resources will strengthen cooperation among all member countries and will help in achieving the goals of SCO. India temporarily stopped IWT after the attack (in which 26 people were killed) in Pahalgam, Kashmir on April 22. Pakistan called it a war action.
This is said on terrorism
Shahbaz Sharif also insisted on the issue of terrorism and said that the Jaffer Express train abducted in March and other attacks in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is unfnertion of the role of some foreign hands. He said that those who use terrorism for political gains will no longer get the acceptance of the world. He said that Pakistan lost more than 90,000 lives under its resolve against terrorism, separatism and extremism and suffered an economic loss of $ 152 billion.
Emphasis on Afghanistan and regional contact
The Prime Minister emphasized the need to maintain a “peaceful and stable” atmosphere in Afghanistan. He said that Pakistan is engaged in forming an economic partnership with Afghan leadership and a good neighbor. Shahbaz introduced the expansion of CPEC in the structure of the SCO as an example of regional contact and economic consolidation. He emphasized the requirement of reliable supply chains through land, air and rail transport routes.
Flood and global help in Pakistan appreciated
Shahbaz Sharif in his address also mentioned the recent floods and rain situation in Pakistan. He highlighted the devastation, loss of life, loss of livestock and heavy losses to agriculture and infrastructure. Shahbaz Sharif appreciated the support and cooperation of the international community, especially China,. Apart from collective meetings, Shahbaz Sharif also held bilateral meetings with SCO leaders. Iranian President Masood Pejeskian expressed condolences to the flood situation in Pakistan and committed to cooperation. The Prime Minister of Pakistan expressed concern over the struggle of Israel and Iran and described the violence in Gaza as a heart -wrenching. He emphasized the need for the establishment of an independent state in Palestine, supporting the two-state solution.

