Islamabad:The Center for SCO Studies at the Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies (IPDS) hosted a high-level webinar titled ‘Post Bishkek SCO Summit 2026: Decisions, Challenges and Pakistan’s Chairmanship 2027,’ bringing together diplomats, policy experts, and academic leaders from Pakistan, Russia, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, China, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan.
In her welcome remarks, Dr Farhat Asif, President of IPDS, reflected on Pakistan’s journey within the SCO and highlighted the Center’s growing contribution to SCO-focused research through initiatives including the SCO Observatory and SCO Commitment Tracker.
Delivering the keynote address, Ambassador Sohail Khan, Deputy Secretary-General of the SCO, reviewed the key outcomes of the 26th SCO Summit and outlined major areas of focus for Pakistan’s upcoming chairmanship, including Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence, energy, poverty reduction and development, humanitarian cooperation, and regional cooperation.
The discussion featured insights from Ambassador Masood Khan, Pakistan’s former Permanent Representative to the UN; Prof. Kubanychbek Taabaldiev from Kyrgyzstan; Stanislav Korolev, Director of Russia’s National Center for People’s Diplomacy of the SCO; Sheradil Baktygulov, Director of the Institute for World Politics Study of Kyrgyzstan; Dr Shamsiddin Karimov, Director of Tajikistan National NGOs Association; Dr Lidiya Parkhomchik, Chief Researcher at Kazakhstan’s Institute of World Economics and Politics; and Kabuljon Sabirov, Director of the SCO Center for Public Diplomacy in Uzbekistan.
From regional connectivity and investment cooperation to human security, logistics, multipolar diplomacy, and people-to-people engagement, the speakers examined both the achievements and unresolved challenges facing the SCO and considered how Pakistan can translate regional consensus into meaningful action during its 2027 chairmanship.
The webinar continued IPDS’ longstanding tradition of post-SCO Summit dialogue, providing a platform for diverse regional perspectives on the future of cooperation across Eurasia.