ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s forthcoming chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in 2027 presents a significant opportunity for the country to promote connectivity, innovation, and economic cooperation across Eurasia, according to Sardar Masood Khan, former Ambassador of Pakistan to the United States, China, and the United Nations, and former President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

According to President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Ambassador Khan addressed a webinar titled “Post-Bishkek SCO Summit 2026: Challenges and Pakistan’s Chairmanship,” hosted by the Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies. He emphasized that Pakistan has less than a year to prepare for the upcoming SCO Summit and implement its theme, “Turning Vision into Action: Connectivity, Innovation, and Shared Prosperity.”

Pakistan has initiated multilateral coordination, having already convened the first meeting of the Council of National Coordinators in late September. Ambassador Khan highlighted the country’s priorities, which include digital trade, multimodal transit corridors, infrastructure development, AI governance, and expanded economic cooperation.

The 2027 SCO Summit could act as a catalyst for deeper economic and security cooperation, reflecting the evolving world order. Ambassador Khan proposed linking the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor with Central Asian states, facilitating their direct access to the Arabian Sea. He also suggested Islamabad could host the operational rollout of the Universal Centre for Countering Challenges and Threats, promoting regional intelligence sharing and cross-border counter-terrorism initiatives.

Ambassador Khan further recommended building a consensus on a unified climate and water framework across the SCO, addressing transboundary water management, disaster preparedness, and green technology. The summit is also expected to discuss progress on the proposed Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Development Bank, intended to work alongside existing development institutions.

In terms of strategic significance, Ambassador Khan proposed that Islamabad could serve as a diplomatic hub and strategic nexus for balancing major powers. He emphasized that the SCO is not merely a “talking shop” or a NATO equivalent in the East, but a platform for a multipolar world order, advocating for international law and collective opposition to terrorism, separatism, and extremism.