On 6 October 2026, Deputy Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Sohail Khan participated via videoconference in the international webinar themed “Post Bishkek SCO Summit 2026: Decisions, Challenges and Pakistan’s Chairmanship 2027”, organized at the initiative of the Center for SCO Studies at the Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies (IPDS).
The event brought together representatives of the expert and academic communities and research institutions from the SCO Member States.
The participants discussed key challenges facing the Organization, prospects for implementing the decisions adopted at the Bishkek Summit on 1 September 2026, priorities of Pakistan’s chairmanship and the future development of the SCO in the lead-up to the Islamabad Summit.
Sohail Khan highlighted the key outcomes of the meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State, emphasising its particular significance for the further development of the Organization in the year of its 25th anniversary.
The Deputy Secretary-General noted that the decisions adopted in Bishkek reflected the shared commitment of the Member States to strengthening peace, security and stability, expanding economic and humanitarian cooperation, and enhancing the practical effectiveness of the SCO’s activities.
Particular emphasis was placed on strengthening cooperation in the field of security and countering terrorism, separatism and extremism, transnational organised crime, illicit drug trafficking and other contemporary challenges and threats.
The webinar participants also focused on transport connectivity, the development of the digital economy and the establishment of the SCO Development Bank.
A separate session was devoted to the prospects for Pakistan’s chairmanship and preparations for the next meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State in Islamabad.