SCO conference: Leaders of member state delegations revealed

Leaders from several nations, including China, India, and Iran, will head their delegations to the SCO conference

The Foreign Ministry has revealed the heads of delegations from countries attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) conference scheduled to take place in Islamabad on October 15 and 16.

According to the Foreign Ministry, Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang will lead his delegation at the SCO conference, while Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will head the Indian delegation.

The Iranian delegation will be led by First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref.

Additionally, the Prime Minister of Belarus, Roman Golovchenko, will head his country's delegation, while Kazakhstan's Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov and Kyrgyzstan's Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Akylbek Japarov will also lead their respective teams.

The Foreign Ministry further stated that Tajikistan's Prime Minister Kohir Rasulzoda and Uzbekistan's Prime Minister Abdullah Aripov will also be among those visiting Pakistan to lead their delegations. Turkmenistan's Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Rashid Meredov, will also be attending.

The Foreign Ministry stated that SCO Secretary-General Zhang Ming, Executive Committee Director Arslan Murzaev, and Chairman of the SCO Business Council Atif Ikram Sheikh will also participate in the meeting, along with Marat Yeli Baev, Chairman of the SCO Interbank Union.

Previously, Afghanistan's absence from the summit was confirmed after it was revealed that the SCO Secretariat did not extend an invitation to the country, according to Express News.

This decision also underscores Afghanistan's current status within the organisation, as it is classified as an observer state rather than a full member.

Diplomatic sources indicate that Afghanistan's membership in the SCO has been inactive since September 2021.

The country became an SCO observer on June 7, 2012, but has not engaged actively since its membership was rendered.

Reports indicate that the Taliban-led administration in Afghanistan has not acknowledged many provisions of the SCO-Afghan agreement, making recognition of the agreement essential for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.

In contrast to Afghanistan, Mongolia has been invited to attend the summit as an observer state.