Pakistan deploys 10,000 security personnel for SCO Summit in Islamabad

Islamabad [Pakistan], October 15, 2024: The 23rd Meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Heads of Government (CHG) is set to commence on Wednesday in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, with high-level security arrangements in place. The event will see the participation of top officials from various member states, and the Pakistan Army has been deployed to ensure the safety of the summit, key government buildings, and the Red Zone area.

According to a report by Dawn, security has been significantly increased in Islamabad, with rangers stationed throughout the city. Many businesses have been temporarily closed in both Islamabad and Rawalpindi to minimize risks, and key routes have been blocked to facilitate the event. Over 10,000 police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed to secure the 900 delegates expected to attend the summit. These delegates will be staying at 14 locations in the capital, primarily within the Red Zone or nearby.

A motorcade of 124 vehicles has been arranged for the transportation of guests, with 84 vehicles designated for heads of state and 40 for other delegates. With all delegations arriving today, the summit is set for a packed schedule on Wednesday.

The event will take place at the Jinnah Convention Centre, where Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will welcome the participants. After the group photos, PM Shehbaz will deliver his opening remarks, followed by statements from other member states. A key part of the day’s agenda includes the signing of documents, after which the PM will deliver his concluding remarks. In the afternoon, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and SCO Secretary General Zhang Ming will address the media, followed by official luncheons hosted by PM Shehbaz for the attendees.

Earlier, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of India stated that the meeting would focus on the trade and economic agenda of the organization. “The 23rd Meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG) will be held on 16 October 2024 in Islamabad under the chairmanship of Pakistan,” the MEA said. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will represent India at the summit, stating that his visit is for the multilateral SCO event and not to discuss India-Pakistan relations. “I am travelling to Pakistan only to be a good member of the SCO,” Jaishankar emphasized.

Key leaders attending the summit include Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, and several other heads of government from SCO member states like Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Belarus. Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber will also participate, alongside special guests such as the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Turkmenistan and Mongolia’s Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai as an observer state.

The SCO, founded in Shanghai on June 15, 2001, is a permanent intergovernmental international organization focused on promoting mutual trust among member states, enhancing cooperation in trade, economy, science, and technology, and jointly maintaining regional peace and stability. The member countries include India, China, Pakistan, Russia, and Iran, among others, with dialogue partners like Bahrain, UAE, and Sri Lanka.