Pakistan becomes full member of Shanghai Cooperation Organization

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan (92 News) – Pakistan has become a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz signed the memorandum at SCO's Heads of State Summit at Tashkent, Uzbekistan on Friday. The organization unanimously gave approval for making Pakistan its full member. After becoming the SCO member, Pakistan will be given a representation in the Council Secretariat in Beijing. Pakistan has been an Observer at the SCO since 2005. It has been a regular participant in the meetings of SCO and was the first SCO Observer to apply for full membership in 2010. Pakistan’s request for membership was approved in principle by the Heads of State Summit held in Ufa, Russia, in July last year. The Heads of State Council had agreed to launch the procedure of accepting Pakistan as a member state of SCO with the consensus of all the founding members. The membership allows Pakistan to underscore its interest in regional peace, stability and development and its support for regional cooperation against terrorism, separatism and extremism. It provides the country with a platform for forging closer ties with China, Russia and other members of the SCO.