FO says Climate Minister Musadik Malik nominated to represent Pakistan at SCO moot in New Delhi

Why This Matters

Key context: <p>The Foreign Office (FO) said on Saturday that Climate Change Minister Musadik Malik had been nominated to represent Pakistan at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Civilisational Dialogue in New Delhi from Nov 20-22.</p> <p>In a statement, the FO said the gathering would bring representatives from SCO member states to discuss issues related to civilisational dialogue and cultural understanding.</p> <p>“The government of Pakistan remains committed to promoting dialogue among civilisations and fostering people-to-people contacts within the SCO framework in a spirit of mutual respect,” the statement said.</p> <figure class='media w-full w-full media-- media--embed media--uneven media--tweet' data-original-src='https://x.com/ForeignOfficePk/status/2121561172340298064'> <div class='media__item media__item--twitter '><span> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"> <a href="https://twitter.com/ForeignOfficePk/status/2121561172340298064"></a> </blockquote> </span></div> </figure> <p>Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on X: “Pakistan who is chairing the SCO Council of Heads of State (CHS) in 2026-27, will participate in SCO Civilisational Dialogue in New Delhi this month.”</p> <figure class='media w-full w-full media-- media--embed media--uneven media--tweet' data-original-src='https://x.com/MIshaqDar50/status/2121588027747340407'> <div class='media__item media__item--twitter '><span> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"> <a href="https://twitter.com/MIshaqDar50/status/2121588027747340407"></a> </blockquote> </span></div> </figure> <p>According to Indian news outlet <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="link--external" href="https://www.aninews.in/news/world/asia/india-confirms-invitations-to-sco-members-for-civilisational-dialogue-in-new-delhi20261113175843/"><em>ANI</em></a>, 10 SCO members — including Pakistan — have been invited to participate in the inaugural Civilisational Dialogue. It added that the gathering was proposed by New Delhi.</p> <p>In a press briefing on Friday, Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that India has invited several SCO member states to take part in the dialogue, adding that New Delhi looks forward to hosting the gathering.</p> <p>Islamabad has a long history of engagement with the SCO through hosting meetings and chairing bodies within the group. It also holds the permanent chairmanship of an SCO working group on poverty alleviation, which focuses on improving living standards across the region.</p> <p>In October 2024, Islamabad hosted the SCO Council of Heads of Government <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1865567"><u>meeting</u></a>, which India’s Minister for External Affairs Dr S. Jaishan­kar <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1865567/pm-shehbaz-calls-for-expanding-chinas-bri-during-much-anticipated-sco-summit-in-islamabad#:~:text=India%E2%80%99s%20Jaishankar%20says%20%E2%80%98activities%20across%20borders%20are%20characterised%20by%20terrorism%E2%80%99">attended</a> on behalf of his prime minister.</p> <figure class='media w-full sm:w-1/2 media--right media--embed media--uneven' data-original-src='https://www.dawn.com/news/1865737'> <div class='media__item media__item--newskitlink '> <iframe class="nk-iframe" width="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="height:250px;position:relative" src="https://www.dawn.com/news/card/1865737" sandbox="allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-popups allow-modals allow-forms"></iframe></div> </figure> <p>Jaishankar’s trip, months before the May 2025 military conflict between the neighbours escalated tensions, marked the <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1865367">first such visit</a> by an Indian foreign minister in nearly a decade.</p> <p>Last month, India sent its SCO National Coordinator Alok Dimri to Islamabad for a preparatory meeting for the next SCO CHS meeting in <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2033039#:~:text=including%20the%20meeting%20of%20the%20SCO%20Council%20of%20Heads%20of%20State%20to%20be%20hosted%20by%20Pakistan%20in%20August%202027.%E2%80%9D">August 2027</a>, which Pakistan is <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2008079">set to host</a>.</p> <p>“This is my first time on Pakistani soil; these SCO-related programmes will continue throughout the year and culminate in the Islamabad summit,” the Indian official had <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="link--external" href="https://x.com/ForeignOfficePk/status/2105260770162565587?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2105260770162565587%7Ctwgr%5Efd77342d4bcea0f747b5878c29be5f8e7d5d497d%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpakistantv.com%2Farticle%2Fhappy-to-be-in-pakistan-india-s-national-coordinator-for-sco">told <em>PTV News</em></a>.</p> <p>Pakistan’s chairmanship of SCO CHS marks another step in the country’s growing engagement with the regional organisation, which has expanded its focus from security cooperation to economic development and regional connectivity.</p> <p>DPM Dar has noted that Pakistan’s membership has evolved from observer status to proactive full membership since 2017, reflecting its commitment to multilateralism and regional cooperation.</p> <p>Earlier this month, Pakistan also <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2041585">assumed the chairmanship</a> of the SCO Interbank Consortium (SCO-IBC) for 2026-27, the Ministry of Finance said, with HBL Chairman Sultan Ai Allana taking charge for the period.</p> <p>“The development coincides with Pakistan’s chairmanship of the SCO for the same period, reflecting the country’s role in promoting regional trade, investment, financial connectivity and economic cooperation”, the ministry said.</p> <p>Pakistan also chairs <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1941078"><u>SCO’s Reg­ional Anti-Terrorist Structure</u></a> (SCO-RATS), a role it assumed in September 2025.</p> This development from dawn.com highlights ongoing changes in the sector.