Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called for water resources to remain beyond political disputes, warning that water must not be turned into a tool of pressure or coercion between states.
Addressing the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State summit in Bishkek, he said South Asia could not achieve its full potential without durable peace and cooperation.
“Water is the lifeblood of our region; it sustains millions of lives and nourishes our land,” Shehbaz said, stressing that the resource should never be exploited for political advantage.
His comments came against the backdrop of tensions surrounding the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT). The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague has ruled that the treaty remains operative and directed India to halt work on hydroelectric projects covered by the dispute.
Pakistan formally assumed the SCO chairmanship for the 2026–27 term at the Bishkek summit. Islamabad will host the SCO Council of Heads of State meeting in 2027. During its tenure, Pakistan will oversee the organisation’s programme and promote cooperation among member countries in areas such as regional security, economic growth and connectivity.
PM Shehbaz described the SCO as an important forum for promoting international peace and stability. He said Pakistan was a committed and responsible member and regarded the SCO as an expression of its members’ shared determination to tackle common challenges.
The PM said the international environment was becoming increasingly complex because of rising geopolitical tensions. He reiterated Pakistan’s support for resolving disputes through peaceful means and upholding international law.
Shehbaz said Pakistan had contributed constructively to efforts aimed at reducing tensions during recent regional crises. He pointed to Islamabad’s diplomatic initiatives that resulted in the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between Iran and the United States.
Pakistan, he said, remained committed to achieving sustainable peace in the region. He also emphasised that international agreements should be honoured in both their letter and spirit.
Speaking about the Makkah Pact, he said the arrangement was exclusively defensive. He stressed that it was not aimed at any particular country and was neither intended to fuel confrontation nor deepen divisions.
Shehbaz also drew attention to the continuing suffering of Palestinians, urging the international community to fulfil its responsibility towards Palestinians and other oppressed peoples seeking their fundamental right to self-determination. He identified terrorism as a major challenge confronting the region and said Pakistan had paid a heavy price in its campaign against terrorism, with more than 90,000 lives lost.
With the SCO region home to more than three billion people, Shehbaz said stronger connectivity should be treated as a strategic priority rather than a choice. He highlighted the importance of reliable energy routes following recent regional crises and called for greater cooperation on railways, roads and energy infrastructure.
He also described the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as a major mechanism for linking regional economies with the Arabian Sea.
He urged SCO members to advance the SCO Development Strategy 2035 and welcomed the proposed establishment of an SCO Development Bank as an important institutional initiative.
