Next month, the PM will travel to China.

Next month, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will head a high-level delegation to China with the goal of reviewing regional developments, including the May conflict between India and Pakistan, and enhancing bilateral cooperation.

Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir will accompany the prime minister, according to officials with knowledge of the development. The precise dates of the visit are still being worked out through diplomatic channels, but it is expected to happen in August.

Following a four-day military confrontation with India in which Pakistan prevailed and its Air Force shot down six Indian fighter jets, including the French-built Rafale, the trip by Pakistan’s top military and civil leadership is all the more significant.

A number of Western capitals kept a close eye on the events in South Asia as the conflict brought attention to China’s military hardware. Beyond-visual-range PL-15 missiles and J-10C fighter jets manufactured in China were crucial.

However, the Chinese hardware was even more deadly because of Pakistan’s integration of its own systems.

The Chinese Air Force chief recently visited Pakistan and stated that he was eager to absorb Pakistan’s multi-domain operations and combat experience.

In a related development, the Indian Deputy Chief of Army Staff recently pointed to Chinese involvement in Pakistan’s military success and asserted that India was fighting on two fronts.

China is the source of 80% of Pakistan’s military equipment.

Nonetheless, the Pakistani army chief clarified that the May conflict was “unmistakably bilateral” during a recent meeting of Corps Commanders.

A senior Chinese official reportedly laughed off the Indian general’s claim when questioned about it. The official reiterated that although China and Pakistan have a long history of defence cooperation, Beijing does not want the two nuclear-armed neighbours to clash.

He pointed out that China constantly encourages both nations to use dialogue to settle disagreements.

Ishaq Dar, the deputy prime minister and foreign minister, is anticipated to visit Beijing this week in advance of the prime minister’s planned visit.

Dar will head Pakistan’s delegation to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) meeting, which will be held in Tianjin, China, from July 14–16, according to a statement from the Foreign Office. Wang Yi, the foreign minister of China, invited the visit.

Participating in the CFM will be foreign ministers from every SCO member state, including Pakistan, China, Belarus, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. For the first time as a full member, Belarus will be present.

According to the SCO framework, the CFM is the third-highest decision-making body. It discusses matters pertaining to member states’ foreign and security policies as well as international relations. Important documents, statements, and decisions that are subsequently reviewed by the Council of Heads of State (CHS) are also finalised by the council.

The next CHS meeting will take place in Tianjin from August 31 to September 1, 2025.

On the sidelines of the CFM session, Dar is also anticipated to meet bilaterally with his counterparts during his visit.