Pakistan reaffirms commitment to regional peace, security, and cooperation at SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting and Energy Conference.
Speaking at the forums, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif outlined Pakistan’s strategic priorities for energy cooperation and security.
Speaking at the SCO Defense Ministers’ Meeting in Qingdao, Asif called for moderation, communication, and diplomacy to reduce regional tensions and vehemently denounced the recent Israeli military assault against Iran.
Along with calling on the international community to pressure Israel for a permanent ceasefire and to guarantee continuous humanitarian aid, he also brought attention to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
He underlined the value of teamwork in tackling changing regional and international security issues.
The minister underlined non-aggression, peaceful dispute resolution, and the territorial integrity of all states while restating Pakistan’s adherence to the UN and SCO charters. He emphasized the value of regional cooperation.
“Pakistan is dedicated to addressing changing regional and global security challenges in collaboration with SCO partners.”
Asif emphasized the danger posed by terrorism, saying: “Terrorism is a common threat.” In order to divert attention from their own internal shortcomings, Pakistan urges all states to refrain from politicizing the international community’s coordinated effort to combat terrorism.
He emphasized that Pakistan denounced the attack in India-held Kashmir as well as all other forms and manifestations of terrorism.
“We demand that all states hold those responsible for the planning, funding, and sponsorship of terrorist attacks, like the Jaffar Express in Balochistan, accountable for their state actions.”
The minister reiterated Pakistan’s zero-tolerance policy against terrorism and cited the country’s operations against outlawed groups like the TTP, BLA, and ISKP.
Additionally, he brought up India’s role in cross-border terrorism, citing the detention of Kulbhushan Jadhav, a current Indian naval officer, “who confessed to financing, planning, and perpetrating multiple terrorist attacks in Pakistan.”
