ISLAMABAD, 15 October 2024, (TON):- The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit 2024 has commenced today in Pakistan’s capital city of Islamabad. The theme of this summit is “Strengthening Multilateral Dialogue; Striving towards a sustainable peace and Prosperity”. The key agenda at this summit include; Regional security, Counter-terrorism and improving security, fostering connectivity networks, trade, investment, and economic opportunities, and climate change issues.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s 23rd Council of Heads of Government summit will be attended by top leaders; Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang, Uzbekistan's Prime Minister Abdullah Aripov, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Prime Minister of Belarus, Roman Golovchenko, Kazakhstan's Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov, Iranian First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref. Tajikistan's Prime Minister Kohir Rasulzoda, Kyrgyzstan's Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Akylbek Japarovand Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, who will lead their respective teams.

The bad part of SCO summit is Afghanistan's absence from the Summit 2024 as SCO Secretariat did not extend an invitation to the country. Reports from Kabul, however, reflect that Afghanistan will not be demoralized and continue positive efforts in the region and play its due role in peace and harmony. Pakistan and Afghanistan as well as almost all the SCO member countries share a common culture and heritage due to Afghan rule in these countries for centuries in the past.