ISLAMABAD – Secretary Defence retired Lt General Ikram ul Haq hashighlighted the importance of Shanghai Cooperation Organization forregional peace and stability and its role as a catalyst for economic growthand prosperity.

He was speaking at the SCO Defence Ministers’ Conference at Bishkek inKyrgyzstan while representing the country.

Secretary Defence reiterated Pakistan’s commitment in promoting theShanghai spirit, which lays emphasis on equality, trust, co-existence,mutual accommodation, and respect for cultural diversity and a desire forcommon development.

He expressed hope that SCO would play an important part in creating aregional order free from coercion, confrontation and conflict.

Secretary Defence also highlighted the achievements made by Pakistan bothin kinetic as well as non-kinetic domain in its fight against terrorism.

On the sidelines of the Conference, Secretary Defence met the DefenceMinister of Peoples Republic of China and discussed matters of mutualinterest and bilateral cooperation.