Officials from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states, including India and Pakistan, met in Islamabad on Friday to review the security situation along their international borders and discuss ways to strengthen cooperation against emerging threats.The discussions took place during the 12th Meeting of the Heads of Border Services of the Competent Authorities of the SCO member states, which was chaired by Pakistan, according to a statement issued by the country’s Foreign Office.Representatives from Belarus, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, along with officials from the Executive Committee of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS), attended the meeting.According to the Foreign Office, the delegates “exchanged information and assessments regarding the situation along the international borders of the SCO member states, as well as trends and forecasts relating to its development.”The participants also reviewed the outcome of the Joint Border Operation Solidarity-2025, a coordinated exercise carried out by the border agencies of SCO member countries, and approved its results.They agreed on the roadmap for organising Joint Border Operation Solidarity-2026 and endorsed the 2027 work plan for the SCO’s group of border service experts.The meeting also backed Tajikistan’s proposal to host Joint Border Operation Solidarity-2027. Delegates further discussed possible dates and the venue for the next meeting of the heads of border services.The participating countries said that regular exchanges of information and the development of common strategies to tackle security challenges along their borders would help deepen cooperation among SCO members while improving border security and mutual trust.
