Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar held a series of high-level meetings on the sidelines of the 24th SCO Council of Heads of Government session.

Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. He thanked the Russian side for the warm welcome and hospitality, and congratulated Moscow on successfully hosting the SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG) meeting.

Both leaders reviewed the positive trajectory of Pakistan–Russia relations. They noted the key role of leadership-level engagement and institutional mechanisms in advancing cooperation between the two countries.

Dar and Lavrov also exchanged views on major regional and international issues. They reiterated their commitment to continue coordination at multilateral forums, including the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

The Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister departed Russia after representing Pakistan at the SCO CHG meeting on 17–18 November 2025. He expressed gratitude to the host government for its hospitality and praised the Embassy of Pakistan in Moscow as well as Foreign Office teams for facilitating his visit.

Dar to co-chair 7th Pak–EU strategic dialogue in Brussels

Pakistan and the European Union are set to review their bilateral cooperation this week as Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar travels to Brussels to co-chair the 7th Pak–EU Strategic Dialogue from November 19 to 21.

According to the FO spokesperson, the visit is being undertaken at the invitation of Kaja Kallas, High Representative of the European Union and Vice-President for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. The Strategic Dialogue — the highest institutional mechanism between Pakistan and the EU — will assess progress under the Pakistan–EU Strategic Engagement Plan (2019) and outline priorities for the next phase of cooperation.

The agenda includes discussions on political engagement, trade and investment, security cooperation, climate action, migration, and people-to-people ties.

During his stay in Brussels, the Deputy Prime Minister will also participate in the 4th EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum, a key platform bringing together ministers from Europe and the broader Indo-Pacific region to discuss shared geopolitical and development challenges.

Engagement with Uzbekistan’s PM

On the sidelines of the summit, Dar met Abdulla Aripov, Prime Minister of Uzbekistan.
He appreciated the positive momentum in Pakistan–Uzbekistan ties and highlighted the importance of continued high-level engagement. Both sides emphasized cooperation within the SCO framework.

Discussion with Kyrgyzstan’s leadership

Dar also met Adylbek Kasymaliev, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Head of the Presidential Administration of Kyrgyzstan.
He congratulated him on assuming the Chair of the SCO Heads of State and discussed regional collaboration under Kyrgyzstan’s rotating presidency.

In addition to bilateral meetings, Dar engaged with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and Chinese Premier Li Qiang during the CHG sessions.
The discussions focused on strengthening collaboration among SCO member states and enhancing regional connectivity.