Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will lead Pakistan’s delegation to the SCO meeting in Tajikistan. The organisation’s Council of Heads of Government meets in Dushanbe on October 19 and 20. The Foreign Office announced this on Monday.
Dar is travelling to Tajikistan at the invitation of Tajik Prime Minister Qohir Rasulzoda. This is according to a statement issued by the Foreign Office. The two-day session brings together the heads of government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s member states. Their talks will centre on the region’s economic future.
Who will attend the SCO meeting in Tajikistan
According to the Foreign Office, seven prime ministers will represent their countries at the meeting. Specifically, they come from Belarus, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Meanwhile, Iran will be represented by its vice president, while India will send its external affairs minister.
The Council of Heads of Government is the SCO’s second-highest decision-making body. Specifically, it sets direction on economic, financial and trade cooperation. It also covers regional connectivity, socio-economic collaboration and the organisation’s budgetary matters.
In addition, during his stay in Dushanbe, Dar will call on Tajikistan’s president and prime minister. In addition, he is expected to hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts from SCO member states. These will take place on the sidelines of the main session, the Foreign Office added.
Why the meeting matters for Pakistan
Indeed, the Dushanbe session comes at a point when Pakistan is moving into a larger role inside the organisation. On October 1, Dar chaired a follow-up meeting in Islamabad. It reviewed preparations for the SCO Council of Heads of State summit. Pakistan is scheduled to host that summit in 2027.
In fact, Pakistan assumes the chairmanship of the Council of Heads of State this September. Moreover, it is chairing the SCO’s Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure for 2025-26. The country last hosted the Council of Heads of Government meeting in Islamabad in October 2024.
For Pakistani readers, the practical stakes lie in trade and connectivity. The SCO platform covers energy links, transport corridors and cross-border commerce across Central and South Asia. In fact, in these areas, Pakistan has been pushing for deeper integration with its northern neighbours. The September summit in Bishkek produced the Bishkek Declaration. It also named Lahore the SCO’s tourism and cultural capital for 2026-27. As a result, this designation puts a Pakistani city at the centre of the bloc’s cultural calendar.
Separately, the Tribune reported that Dar spoke with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Sunday. They discussed the evolving regional situation and an upcoming meeting of OIC foreign ministers in Baghdad. Consequently, this signals a busy diplomatic week for Pakistan beyond Dushanbe.
What happens next
The council is expected to adopt a joint communique. It will also adopt statements and decisions on economic cooperation, trade and regional connectivity. Dar’s sideline meetings will offer Pakistan a chance to advance its own priorities. These include preparations for the 2027 summit it will host.
In fact, Pakistan’s responsibilities inside the SCO are growing. They range from the counter-terrorism structure to next year’s heads-of-state summit. As a result, the outcomes in Dushanbe will feed directly into Islamabad’s own hosting plans. Ishaq Dar set out Pakistan’s defensive posture under the Makkah pact earlier this year. Since then, the foreign minister has paired security diplomacy with economic outreach. The Tajikistan visit continues that balance.
The visit also follows a run of high-level diplomatic engagements in Islamabad. For example, these include the two-day visit of Bahrain’s foreign minister earlier this month. Meanwhile, back home, the government has already begun logistical preparations for the 2027 summit. This includes the Cabinet Division defending a Rs6 billion bulletproof vehicle purchase tied to the event. In addition, Dar has kept channels open on other fronts, saying Iran-US talks continued for 24 hours earlier this year.
Frequently asked questions
When is the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting?
The meeting takes place in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on October 19 and 20, 2026.
Who is leading Pakistan’s delegation?
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is leading the delegation. Specifically, he travels at the invitation of Tajik Prime Minister Qohir Rasulzoda.
What does the SCO Council of Heads of Government decide?
It is the organisation’s second-highest decision-making body, guiding economic, financial, trade and connectivity cooperation as well as budgetary matters.
When will Pakistan host the SCO summit?
Pakistan is scheduled to host the SCO Council of Heads of State summit in Islamabad in 2027. Finally, it will do so after assuming the council’s chairmanship this September.
