The Secretary General of the United Nation Mr. Antonio Guterres called on the Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Nawaz Sharif today on the sidelines of the Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Congratulating Pakistan for a successful SCO membership, he said that Pakistan was an important member of the international community and was playing an active role in the United Nations. During the meeting, the two also exchanged views on other important issues of significance at the bilateral, regional and international levels.

The Prime Minister stated that pursuing membership of the SCO was an important milestone and achievement of foreign policy of Pakistan. It advanced government’s policy of peaceful neighborhood and enhancing connectivity in the region. He further stated that Pakistan believed in building cooperative and stronger relationships with other members of the international comity. There were legitimate expectations for the United Nations to play its due role in addressing the myriad challenges of today including long-outstanding issue of Jammu and Kashmir. He appreciated efforts of the UNSG and expressed his support to the call of the Secretary General for cooperation among states and other stakeholders for advancing the agenda of peace and cooperation, including by resolving disputes through dialogue and negotiations, agreeing that this was essential for success in conflict prevention and resolution.

The Secretary General appreciated Pakistan’s role in hosting Afghan refugees for the past 37 years. Both agreed that peace in the region and the world at large was in every one’s interest.