In pictures: Pakistan hosts world leaders at SCO moot

Highest-profile event hosted by Islamabad in years is being attended by leaders from 10 countries

By
Web Desk

Pakistan on Wednesday marked a key diplomatic milestone as it hosted the highly-anticipated Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit with world leaders converging in Islamabad with PM Shehbaz Sharif in chair.

The SCO moot — the highest-profile event hosted by the country in years — is being held at the Jinnah Convention Centre in the federal capital, with leaders from 10 countries in attendance.

The leaders from the SCO member states attending the summit include China's Premier of the State Council Li Qiang, Prime Minister of Belarus Roman Golovchenko, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Tajik Prime Minister Kohir Rasulzoda, Uzbek Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov, Kyrgyzstan's Chairman of Ministers’ Cabinet Zhaparov Akylbek, and Iran's First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref.

Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar's participation at the event was a major highlight, marking the first such visit by an Indian FM in almost a decade amid frosty relations between the two nuclear powers.

Meanwhile, observer state Mongolia is represented by Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai and Turkmenistan by Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Rashid Meredov as the special guest.

Formed in 2001, the Eurasian security and political group claims to represent 40% of the world's population and about 30% of its GDP, but its members have diverse political systems and even open disagreements with one another.

PM Shehbaz Sharif receives Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the Jinnah Convention Centre for the SCO summit in Islamabad on October 16, 2024. — PID
PM Shehbaz Sharif receives Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the Jinnah Convention Centre for the SCO summit in Islamabad on October 16, 2024. — PID
PM Shehbaz Sharif shakes hands with Irans Minister of Industry Mohammed Atabak at the Jinnah Convention Centre for the SCO summit in Islamabad on October 16, 2024. — PID
PM Shehbaz Sharif shakes hands with Iran's Minister of Industry Mohammed Atabak at the Jinnah Convention Centre for the SCO summit in Islamabad on October 16, 2024. — PID
PM Shehbaz Sharif shakes hands with Indian FM  Subrahmanyam Jaishankar at the Jinnah Convention Centre for the SCO summit in Islamabad on October 16, 2024. — PID
PM Shehbaz Sharif shakes hands with Indian FM  Subrahmanyam Jaishankar at the Jinnah Convention Centre for the SCO summit in Islamabad on October 16, 2024. — PID
PM Shehbaz Sharif shakes hands with Vice President of Turkmenistan Rasit Meredow at the Jinnah Convention Centre for the SCO summit in Islamabad on October 16, 2024. — PID
PM Shehbaz Sharif shakes hands with Vice President of Turkmenistan Rasit Meredow at the Jinnah Convention Centre for the SCO summit in Islamabad on October 16, 2024. — PID
PM Shehbaz Sharif shakes hands with Tajikistans PM Qohir Rasulzoda at the Jinnah Convention Centre for the SCO summit in Islamabad on October 16, 2024. — PID
PM Shehbaz Sharif shakes hands with Tajikistan's PM Qohir Rasulzoda at the Jinnah Convention Centre for the SCO summit in Islamabad on October 16, 2024. — PID
Participants pose for a group photo at the Jinnah Convention Centre for the SCO summit in Islamabad on October 16, 2024. — PID
Participants pose for a group photo at the Jinnah Convention Centre for the SCO summit in Islamabad on October 16, 2024. — PID
PM Shehbaz Sharif speaks at the SCO summit in Islamabad on October 16, 2024. — PID
PM Shehbaz Sharif speaks at the SCO summit in Islamabad on October 16, 2024. — PID
PM Shehbaz Sharif speaks at the SCO summit in Islamabad on October 16, 2024. — PID
PM Shehbaz Sharif speaks at the SCO summit in Islamabad on October 16, 2024. — PID
Indian FM Subrahmanyam Jaishankar speaks at the SCO summit being held at the Jinnah Convention Centre in Islamabad on October 16, 2024. — X/@DrSJaishankar
Indian FM Subrahmanyam Jaishankar speaks at the SCO summit being held at the Jinnah Convention Centre in Islamabad on October 16, 2024. — X/@DrSJaishankar
An inside view of the Jinnah Convention Centre with SCO summit underway in Islamabad on October 16, 2024. — X/@DrSJaishankar
An inside view of the Jinnah Convention Centre with SCO summit underway in Islamabad on October 16, 2024. — X/@DrSJaishankar