Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan: Pakistan attended 14th meeting of the Security Council Secretaries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states held here in Bishkek on Wednesday May 15, 2019
According to an official statement issued by the Embassy of Pakistan in Bishkek, Zafar Iqbal, Additional Secretary Incharge of National Security Division led the Pakistani delegation while Syed Naveed Bukhari, Director General (SCO) attended the experts meeting on 13 May 2019.
Representatives of the SCO member states – Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan and India took part in the meeting. The parties discussed 17 key issues, including transboundary crime, counteraction to extremism and terrorism, and other SCO related aspects. The officials also exchanged views on security and stability in the SCO countries and discussed the strengthening of their cooperative efforts against terrorism, separatism and extremism, illegal trafficking in arms and narcotic drugs, and transnational organized crime. They also focused on the importance of consistently meeting the requirements of the relevant Security resolutions regarding the fight against terrorism in all its forms and manifestation.
Zafar Iqbal in his statement highlighted immense contributions made by Pakistan in fighting and eliminating extremism from its soil. He said that the SCO holds tremendous potential for connectivity, trade, energy and economic development. It can lead to progress and prosperity for the entire region. Pakistan considers SCO as a vital platform to forge closer ties with regional partners and enhance mutual understanding of various mechanisms.
All Security Council secretaries including Zafar Iqbal called on President Sooronbay Sharipovich Jeenbekov before the concluding session and thanked him for making excellent arrangements for the meeting. President Jeenbekov expressed the hope that the mechanism of the SCO Security Council Secretaries meeting would actively adapt to changes in the situation, earnestly perform its duties, and provide stronger support for SCO member states to maintain national security and social stability.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Mr. Zafar Iqbal held delegation level meeting with Mr. Patrushev Nikolai Platonovich, National Security Adviser of the Security Council of the Russian Federation. The sides reviewed existing level of cooperation between the two countries and stressed the need to further expand it both within bilateral as well as SCO context.
Mr Zafar Iqbal also held delegation level talks with Mr. Sagynbaev Damir Kazakoviche, Secretary National Security Council of the Kyrgyz Republic. The participants highlighted the need to further increase cooperation between the two countries in the field of intelligence and counter terrorism. At the conclusion of the meeting the parties signed protocol of the 14th meeting of the Secretaries of the Security Council.
