ISLAMABAD – Pakistan will host Shanghai Cooperation Organization–Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (SCO-RATS) legal experts meeting in Islamabad from May 22 to 25.
According to the Foreign Office, this is the first ever SCO meeting being held in Pakistan since the country became member of SCO in June 2017.
“Pakistan is pleased to welcome delegations from SCO member states to Islamabad,” the FO said.
Legal Experts from the eight member states including China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, India, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Pakistan, as well as representatives of the SCO-RATS Executive Committee will participate in the meeting.
The Legal Experts will discuss terrorist threats facing the region, and means to enhance counter terrorism cooperation between SCO member states.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs is yet to confirm or deny the development.
The statement added that Pakistan supports SCO’s efforts for regional cooperation in fighting terrorism, drug trafficking and organised crimes. “We are ready to share our experiences in tackling the menace of terrorism through the SCO-RATS”, the statement added.
RATS is a permanent unit of the SCO, headquartered in Tashkent. The moot comes just weeks ahead of the SCO meet in Chinese city of Qingdao from June 9-10. Other than the legal experts, national security advisors (NSAs) of the SCO countries are expected to meet in China soon.
Pakistan’s National Security Adviser Naseer Khan Janjua and India’s Deputy NSA Rajinder Khanna are expected to attend the meet.
India’s participation would come as a significant move amid rising tensions between the two nuclear-armed nations.
