By The South Asia Times

ISLAMABAD -  Pakistan used a series of high-level bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) Meeting in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan, to strengthen ties with Central Asian partners while receiving support for its diplomatic efforts to promote regional peace, including its role in facilitating the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) related to the US-Iran situation.

According to Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar held separate meetings with the foreign ministers of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Belarus during the SCO gathering.

In talks with Uzbekistan's Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov, both sides reaffirmed the Pakistan-Uzbekistan strategic partnership and reviewed cooperation in trade, investment, regional connectivity, energy, culture and people-to-people exchanges. They also stressed the importance of sustained high-level contacts and stronger business engagement to expand economic ties.

The two ministers recalled Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev's visit to Pakistan earlier this year and emphasized implementing the agreements reached during the visit. Saidov also praised Pakistan's diplomatic efforts to promote regional peace and stability, including its role in facilitating the Islamabad MoU concerning the US-Iran situation. Both sides expressed hope that continued dialogue and diplomacy would contribute to lasting regional stability.

During a separate meeting with Tajikistan's Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin, the two countries reaffirmed their longstanding bilateral relationship and pledged to expand cooperation in trade, investment, connectivity, energy, culture and people-to-people exchanges. Muhriddin reiterated Tajikistan's support for Pakistan's efforts to promote peace, stability and the peaceful resolution of regional issues.

Dar also met Kazakhstan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev, where the two sides reviewed progress in bilateral relations following President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's visit to Pakistan earlier this year. They agreed to implement the understandings reached during the visit, including 37 memorandums of understanding covering trade, investment, transport, regional connectivity, energy and other sectors.

Kosherbayev commended Pakistan's efforts to advance regional peace and diplomacy and invited Dar to visit Kazakhstan, an invitation the Pakistani foreign minister accepted for a mutually convenient date.

In his meeting with Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov, the two ministers reviewed bilateral cooperation and preparations for the ninth session of the Pakistan-Belarus Joint Ministerial Commission, scheduled to be held in Islamabad on Aug. 11-12.

The two sides discussed expanding cooperation in trade, defense, agriculture, technology and workforce exchange while reaffirming their commitment to the Roadmap for Comprehensive Cooperation (2025-2027). Ryzhenkov also appreciated Pakistan's constructive role in facilitating dialogue during the U.S.-Iran situation and praised its continued efforts to promote regional peace and security.

The bilateral meetings took place on the margins of the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers Meeting, where regional leaders discussed cooperation, connectivity and key regional and international developments ahead of the organization's upcoming summit.