BISHKEK: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar held high-level talks with Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Zheenbek Kulubaev in Bishkek on Wednesday, with both sides pledging to expand cooperation in trade, investment, energy and regional connectivity while reinforcing their commitment to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
Dar congratulated Kulubaev on Kyrgyzstan’s successful chairmanship of the SCO and its hosting of the recent SCO Summit, as well as the opening ceremony of the VI World Nomad Games. He praised Bishkek’s leadership in advancing the organisation’s agenda and reaffirmed Pakistan’s desire to deepen bilateral relations across multiple sectors, including regional security and people-to-people exchanges.
Leadership Transition and Mutual Confidence
Kulubaev, in turn, congratulated Pakistan on assuming the Chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State for 2026–27, expressing confidence that Islamabad would steer the bloc effectively. He underscored Kyrgyzstan’s high regard for its friendly ties with Pakistan and signalled readiness to broaden cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
The two foreign ministers also exchanged views on regional and international developments, agreeing to maintain close coordination within the SCO and other multilateral platforms to promote peace, stability and shared prosperity.
High-Level Delegation Accompanies Dar
Dar was accompanied by a senior delegation including Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan, Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi, and Foreign Secretary Ambassador Amna Baloch.
The meeting comes as Pakistan prepares to take on a more prominent role within the SCO, a grouping that includes China, Russia, Central Asian states and South Asian members, and which has increasingly focused on economic corridors, counter-terrorism and energy security.
