PM urges SCO states to resist bloc politics for peaceful coexistence

DUSHANBE: Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Friday has asked SCO nations to work collectively for resolution of the Aghan issue. Addressing the SCO Head of States Summit, PM Imran Khan said that the region is facing numerous challenges and we have to work collectively to resolve the issues including the Afghan problem.

Khan called upon the regional countries to “resist any drift towards bloc politics” and stressed pursuing the approach of peaceful coexistence. “Peaceful coexistence and cooperation – not confrontation, should be the main drivers of global politics,” he said in his address at the 20th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Heads of State meeting, held in the capital of Tajikistan. The summit gathered the Presidents of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Iran, leaders of observer states, foreign ministers, and heads of international and regional organizations. Vladimir Norov, SCO Secretary-General and Jumakhon Giyasov, Director Executive Committee of SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure were also present.

Prime Minister said addressing the threats to international and regional peace and security was a vital interest for SCO. He said the fight against terror would not be won if such threats and challenges were ignored, with state terrorism being the biggest one, perpetrated against people living under foreign occupation in disputed territories. “In some cases, such extremist and bigoted ideologies have ascended to capture the state power in so-called democracies,” he said.

Imran Khan said Pakistan believed that faithfully implementing UN Security Council resolutions for peaceful settlement of outstanding disputes was a necessary condition for peace, and indispensable for creating an environment of cooperation. The Prime Minister said “associating one religion with terrorism has enabled far-right, populist and supremacist groups around the world to propagate, multiply and accumulate influence.” “For decades Pakistan has suffered from terrorism that was planned, supported, financed and orchestrated by state entities from across our border.” “For decades Pakistan has suffered from terrorism that was planned, supported, financed and orchestrated by state entities from across our border. Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday joined other regional leaders at the 20th Shanghai Cooperation Organization Council of Heads of State (SCO-CHS) Summit, in Tajikistan’s capital.

On his arrival at Nauroz palace – the venue of the SCO meeting, the prime minister was warmly received by Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon. At the welcome ceremony, PM Imran Khan and other participating leaders of SCO member states posed for a group photograph with President Emomali, the head of the host countr