ISLAMABAD (MNN); Pakistan on Friday hosted and chaired the 12th Meeting of the Heads of Border Services of the Competent Authorities of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), reaffirming its commitment to strengthening regional border security, counterterrorism cooperation and mutual trust among member states.
According to the Foreign Office (FO), the meeting brought together heads and representatives of border services from Belarus, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, along with officials from the Executive Committee of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS).
The participants reviewed the prevailing security situation along the international borders of SCO member states, exchanged assessments, and discussed emerging regional security trends and future challenges.
The meeting approved the outcomes of the Joint Border Operation “Solidarity-2025”, carried out jointly by the border authorities of SCO member states, and endorsed plans for conducting the next joint operation, “Solidarity-2026”. The participants also supported Tajikistan’s proposal to host the “Solidarity-2027” border operation.
The Foreign Office said the discussions would further strengthen cooperation among SCO border services while enhancing regional security, stability and mutual confidence.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Iran’s Border Guard Commander Brigadier General Ali Akbar Javidan expressed Tehran’s interest in expanding cooperation with SCO member states. He said Iran sought closer collaboration in border security, intelligence sharing, combating terrorism, drug trafficking, organised crime and cross-border smuggling.
Originally established in 2001 as a regional security alliance, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation has since evolved into a major platform for regional economic, political and security cooperation. Its ten member states include Pakistan, China, Russia, India, Iran, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, while Afghanistan and Mongolia hold observer status.
The meeting comes as Pakistan prepares to assume the rotating Chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State (CHS) in September this year and is scheduled to host the SCO Heads of State Summit in 2027.
