The 46th meeting of the Council of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (SCO-RATS) was held in Islamabad under Pakistan’s chairmanship, Foreign Office Spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan said.
Delegations from relevant agencies of Belarus, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan participated in the meeting.
Representatives of the Executive Committee of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure also attended.
The council discussed current issues on the international agenda concerning regional security and reviewed cooperation among member states against terrorism, separatism and extremism.
According to the Foreign Office spokesperson, the council condemned new military attacks against Iran and reaffirmed the SCO’s previously stated position on the issue.
The council also expressed condolences to the Iranian government and people over what the statement described as the tragic passing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Seyyed Ali Khamenei, and extended sympathies to the families of those who lost their lives in Iran.
It reaffirmed support for Iran’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity and backed efforts aimed at de-escalating tensions, establishing peace and ensuring stability in the region.
The council reviewed the implementation of previously adopted decisions on cooperation between relevant agencies of member states in combating terrorism, separatism and extremism.
It also approved future action plans for the SCO-RATS Executive Committee and expert groups on key counter-terrorism issues.
The meeting took decisions on establishing and improving information infrastructure to strengthen cooperation among member states.
The council agreed to conduct a joint information operation against terrorism in 2027 and to hold a practical seminar the same year on preventing the use of the internet for terrorism, separatism and extremism.
Member States also agreed to conduct a joint counter-terrorism exercise involving their relevant agencies in 2027.
The exercise will focus on identifying and preventing the use of the internet for terrorism, separatism and extremism.
The meeting decided that the 13th International Scientific and Practical Conference on cooperation against terrorism, separatism and extremism among SCO member states and an observer state would be held in Kazakhstan.
The council also reviewed organisational and personnel matters concerning the SCO-RATS Executive Committee.
Officials and Executive Committee members who contributed to strengthening the activities of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure and cooperation among member states’ relevant agencies were awarded honours.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Pakistan transferred the chairmanship of the SCO-RATS Council to Russia.
The council agreed to hold its next meeting at the SCO-RATS Executive Committee office in Tashkent.
Reporter: Anwer Abbas