Pakistan has officially taken over the chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (SCO-RATS) for the term 2025–2026, with a pledge to strengthen regional cooperation on counterterrorism. The announcement came after the 44th meeting of the RATS Council held in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyz Republic, where member states unanimously agreed to transfer the chair to Islamabad.
The Foreign Office (FO) welcomed the development, calling it a vote of confidence in Pakistan’s commitment to regional peace and security. In a statement, the FO said, “Pakistan today assumed the chair of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure for 2025-26.” It further vowed to operate under the guiding principles of the Shanghai Spirit, which include mutual trust, equality, and shared responsibility.
Mandate of SCO-RATS and Regional Challenges
SCO-RATS, based in Tashkent, is tasked with coordinating counterterrorism, counter-separatism, and counter-extremism among SCO member states. The structure plays a key role in facilitating intelligence sharing, maintaining databases of banned organizations, organizing joint military drills, managing extradition frameworks, and enabling coordinated security operations.
However, political tensions—particularly between Pakistan and India—have often constrained the structure’s effectiveness. During India’s chairmanship in 2022, progress on critical initiatives, including a shared intelligence database, stalled due to disagreements. Moreover, joint drills and multilateral events have seen inconsistent participation. Public exchanges of accusations in 2023 and 2025 meetings further undermined RATS, compelling China and Russia to step in as mediators.
Experts believe that these bilateral disputes have compromised RATS’s neutrality, limiting its effectiveness as a cohesive security platform. Still, Pakistan has reaffirmed its intention to work through these challenges and build stronger ties within the SCO framework.
Pakistan’s Plans and the RATS Council Resolutions
As chair, Pakistan plans to host several key events during its tenure. These include expert seminars on cyber counterterrorism, terrorist financing, information warfare, border security, and capacity building. According to an information note released by the RATS Council, a major focus will be on countering the use of the internet for terrorist, separatist, and extremist purposes.
The council also approved the formation of an executive committee and expert groups to tackle issues such as terrorist financing and the prevention of cross-border extremist movements. Additionally, member states agreed to launch joint information campaigns in 2026 aimed at curbing the influence of international terrorist organizations.
In its concluding statement, the council condemned recent terrorist attacks across SCO member states and expressed concern over military strikes on civilian targets, including Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. These positions align with the Tianjin Declaration, previously adopted by SCO heads of state.
