Pakistan remains committed to the 'Shanghai spirit', Naqvi tells SCO moot

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Friday reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the “Shanghai spirit” and called for a joint strategy among SCO member states to counter terrorism, organised crime, drug trafficking, cybercrime and terror financing. Naqvi said this at a special meeting of the Ministers of Interior and Public Security of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. He said the region faced “serious and complex security challenges” that were interconnected, noting that criminal and terrorist networks were rapidly adapting to technological advancements, exploiting artificial intelligence, digital platforms, online networks and cryptocurrency transactions to expand their activities. The interior minister emphasised the importance of modernising institutional coordination and enhancing intelligence-sharing mechanisms across the region to tackle these threats. Shared threats demanded shared solutions, Naqvi told the delegates, further calling for a comprehensive regional strategy to tackle transnational crime and emerging security risks. Highlighting Pakistan’s commitment to the principles of the SCO, he said: “Pakistan fully adheres to the principles of the Shanghai Spirit, which is based on mutual trust, equality, cooperation, and respect for sovereignty.” Naqvi further stated that Pakistan had rendered “unparalleled sacrifices” against terrorism and continued to strengthen its security architecture to address evolving threats. Under the National Action Plan, he said, Pakistan had strengthened intelligence coordination, border management and anti-money laundering measures. “These initiatives have significantly strengthened the country’s capacity to combat terrorism and organised crime.” He called for more effective cooperation under SCO’s Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) for intelligence sharing, joint threat analysis and countering online radicalisation and extremist propaganda. Pakistan, he said, fully supported workshops and expert ex