Khawaja Asif Condemns Israeli Actions and Calls for Ceasefire in Gaza at SCO
Qingdao, China – June 26, 2025 – The Honourable Federal Minister for Defence, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, led Pakistan’s delegation to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Defence Ministers’ Meeting held in Qingdao, China.
In his address, the Defence Minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s steadfast commitment to the principles and objectives of the SCO, emphasizing the importance of collective security, coordinated counterterrorism efforts, and enhanced regional connectivity.
He underscored that the SCO serves as a critical pillar of stability by actively fostering dialogue, mutual trust, and collaborative partnership among its member states.
He reiterated Pakistan’s adherence to the Charter of the United Nations, the SCO Charter, and universally accepted international laws aimed at promoting peace, security, good neighbourly relations, and cooperation between nations.
Expressing grave concern over ongoing global conflicts, the Minister condemned the unprovoked and unlawful military actions taken by Israel against the Islamic Republic of Iran.
He also voiced Pakistan’s deep concern over the escalating violence and humanitarian crisis in Gaza, calling for the immediate implementation of a permanent ceasefire to halt Israel’s brutal and relentless attacks on Palestinian civilians and to ensure the unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid.
The Minister emphasized that in order to achieve the shared vision of lasting regional prosperity, a peaceful and stable Afghanistan is essential for advancing regional connectivity under the SCO framework.
On the issue of terrorism, the Defence Minister stressed that it remains a common threat and must be addressed collectively. Pakistan calls on all states to desist from politicising the joint effort of the International Community to fight the means of terrorism to deflect attention from their internal failures. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s resolute condemnation of all forms and manifestations of terrorism.
Pakistan also condemns the terrorist attack in the internationally recognised disputed and illegally occupied region of Jammu and Kashmir. We call upon all states to hold these states to account who planned, financed and sponsored terrorist attacks such as Jaffar Express in Pakistan Baluchistan Province.
The Minister also highlighted the international community’s responsibility to resolve long-standing disputes, like Kashmir and Palestine, cautioning that unresolved conflicts continue to endanger global peace and security.
In this regard, he urged for the peaceful settlement of disputes through dialogue, mediation, and preventive diplomacy.
On the sidelines of the meeting, the Minister held bilateral engagements with his counterparts from Tajikistan, Iran, Kazakhstan and China, exchanging views on shared security priorities and deepening collaboration.
Pakistan’s active engagement in the forum underscores its enduring role as a constructive contributor to regional stability and cooperative multilateralism under the SCO umbrella.
