ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has arrived in Islamabad after concluding his visit to Kazakhstan to attend a Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit aimed at discussing global political, security and economic challenges, Sharif’s office said late Thursday.
The SCO Plus meeting included not only SCO member states but also observer nations and other invited guests. The expanded format aimed to broaden dialogue and cooperation beyond core member countries, engaging a wider range of nations in discussions.
Sharif led the Pakistani delegation to the SCO Council of Heads of State (CHS) meeting in Astana, which discussed important regional and global developments and approved about 20 decisions in various areas of cooperation, according to the Pakistan PM’s office.
The CHS adopted statements on safety of drinking water and sanitation, effective waste management and principles of good neighborliness as well as approved plans for ongoing cooperation in economic and security fields. An agreement on environment protection was also signed by relevant SCO ministers.
“Prime Minister Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the ‘Shanghai Spirit’ that stands for mutual trust and respect for shared prosperity and development,” Sharif’s office said in a statement.
“Reiterating the purposes and principles of UN Charter, the Prime Minister underscored the central coordinating role of the United Nations and the need to resolve longstanding disputes through peaceful means in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions that uphold people’s right to self-determination.”
He highlighted Pakistan’s principled position on the situation in Gaza and emphasized the importance of a peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan. Sharif also underscored Pakistan’s strategic location as an “ideal trade and transit hub” for the entire SCO region.
Founded in 2001, the SCO is a major trans-regional organization spanning South and Central Asia, with China, Russia, Pakistan, India, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan as its permanent members. The SCO member states collectively represent nearly half of the world’s population and a quarter of global economic output. 
The organization’s agenda of promoting peace and stability, and seeking enhanced linkages in infrastructure, economic, trade and cultural spheres, is aligned with Pakistan’s own vision of enhancing economic connectivity as well as peace and stability in the region.
Sharif also met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and President of Azerbaijan İlham Aliyev in Astana, according to the Pakistani foreign office. In the trilateral summit, relations among Türkiye, Azerbaijan and Pakistan as well as regional and global matters such as Gaza, Kashmir, Islamophobia were discussed.
“It was agreed that strengthening of trilateral cooperation among Türkiye – Azerbaijan – Pakistan would not only contribute to prosperity of the peoples of the three countries, but also serve to promote regional and global peace and stability,” the Pakistani foreign office said in a statement.
“The three countries expressed their support for prioritizing dialogue among relevant countries in conflict resolution, in line with principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

KHAPLU, GILGIT-BALTISTAN: A Brazilian tourist was killed in a paragliding incident in Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region on Thursday, officials confirmed, making him the fourth foreigner to have died in the country’s northern mountainous area in less than two months. 

Gilgit-Baltistan, a sparsely populated region administered by Pakistan as an autonomous territory, is home to some of the highest peaks in the world and a major tourist destination. Hundreds of tourists visit the region each year for expeditions on various peaks, paragliding and other sports activities. 

Last month, two Japanese climbers went missing while attempting to summit the 7,027-meter Spantik Peak in the area’s Nagar district. The body of one of the climbers was found by Pakistani authorities, who subsequently called off the search for the other missing climber. On Wednesday, officials confirmed another Japanese climber had died as he descended the same Spantik Peak after summiting it. 

“The accident occurred today in the Shigar district’s Askole area,” Wali Ur Rehman, the district’s deputy commissioner, told Arab News via text message. “The paraglider has been identified as Raineri Rodrigo Chadded.”

Akhtar Shigri, a district official responsible for matters relating to foreigners, said Chadded was part of a seven-member team who were on their way to the K2 base camp.

He said of the other six foreigners, two were from France, one was from Bulgaria, two from the United States and one from Switzerland. 

Shigri said all members of the team left Shigar headquarters on Wednesday for the K2 base camp but Chadded opted to paraglide from Askoli to Jhula camp. 

“He fell while paragliding and was killed in the Askoli area,” Shigri told Arab News, adding that authorities were shifting his body.

Pakistan is home to five of the world’s tallest mountains that loom above 8,000 meters, including the K2 and Nanga Parbat mountains, known for their treacherous climbs. This year over 2,000 foreign climbers and trekkers have applied for permits for mountaineering expeditions and trekking in Gilgit Baltistan. 

Sajid Hussain, deputy secretary for the GB Tourism Department, said the government could not stop deaths from taking place in the northern area.

“However, for the last few years, we have been strictly directing tour companies to opt for all safety measures in this field,” Hussain told Arab News.

He said only one climber lost his life whilst attempting to summit the K2 last year. 

Hussain said the ratio of climbers and trekkers dying in the northern region was very low, considering the number of foreigners that visit the area, due to strict safety measures adopted by authorities here. 

“We are doing our level best to facilitate climbers and trekkers,” he said. “All tour companies have been directed to ensure the implementation of life insurance for climbers and trekkers, so that we can promptly kick off the rescue mission via Askari aviation in case of emergency.”