Pakistan has officially assumed the chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s (SCO) Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) for the 2025-26 term. The decision was made at the 44th meeting of the RATS Council held in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyz Republic, marking a significant milestone in Pakistan’s role in regional security.
🔊PR NO. 2️⃣7️⃣3️⃣/2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣5️⃣
Pakistan Assumes Chair of SCO-RATS (2025-26).
🔗⬇️https://t.co/cG6RUw0FR6 pic.twitter.com/nJVTaoZI2U
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) September 10, 2025
The Foreign Office of Pakistan issued a statement welcoming the decision, calling it a “reflection of the confidence of SCO member states in Pakistan’s dedicated efforts and contribution towards regional peace and security, particularly in combating terrorism.” Islamabad has pledged to work towards fostering regional cooperation on countering terrorism, guided by the “Shanghai spirit” of mutual trust, equality, and shared responsibility.
The Tashkent-based RATS is the permanent body of the SCO, created to coordinate the efforts of member states in combating terrorism, separatism, and extremism. Its mandate includes intelligence sharing, creating databases of banned groups, organizing joint drills, and facilitating coordinated operations.
During its tenure, Pakistan will focus on advancing collective counter-terrorism efforts in collaboration with its SCO partners and international organizations, including the United Nations. The Foreign Office announced that Pakistan will host a series of expert events and practical seminars on key areas, including:
- Cyber Counter-terrorism: Combating the use of the internet for terrorist, separatist, and extremist purposes.
- Information Operations: Addressing the spread of extremist propaganda.
- Border Security: Strengthening measures to prevent the cross-border movement of terrorists.
- Terrorist Financing: Developing strategies to curb the funding of terrorist activities.
- Capacity-Building: Enhancing the professional skills and capabilities of law enforcement personnel.
The RATS Council, in its recent meeting, also approved plans for an executive committee and expert groups to address key challenges, including measures to curb terrorist financing and prevent extremist movements across SCO states. Members also agreed to launch joint information campaigns against international terrorist organizations in the coming year.
The assumption of this important role highlights Pakistan’s long-standing commitment to fighting terrorism and its pivotal position in regional security. Pakistan’s leadership will aim to strengthen RATS’s capacity as a seamless multilateral platform, enabling more effective and coordinated responses to the evolving threat of terrorism in the region.
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