ISLAMABAD, Oct 16, (AP): Officials from an international security group founded to counter Western alliances met in Pakistan's capital on Wednesday to discuss how to boost security cooperation and economic ties. The meeting of the heads of the council of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization began with opening remarks from the host country's leader, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, whose government is struggling against insurgencies and one of the worst economic crises.

Sharif received leaders and officials from the members states before the formal proceedings. The group was founded in 2001 by China and Russia to counter Western alliances. Other members include Iran, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. He thanked the guests for attending, saying "your presence here today underscores our shared commitment to fulfilling the aspirations of our people to ensure collective security and to enhance mutually beneficial cooperation for sustainable development and prosperity of the SCO region.”

Sharif also called for a peaceful Afghanistan, but said the the neighbor's soil should not be used for violence against any country. Sharif's remarks came amid a surge in violence for which Pakistan blames the militants who are based in Afghanistan. However, Kabul has denied the charge, with Afghanistan's Taliban government saying it does not allow anyone to use its soil for violence against any country, including Pakistan. Pakistan has deployed troops in Islamabad and deployed additional police to ensure security during the meeting of SCO leaders and officials.

These measures have virtually have locked down the capital, making it difficult even for ambulances to pass through. The SCO meetings comes more than a week after two Chinese engineers were killed in suicide bombing outside the airport in Karachi, the capital of southern Sindh province. An outlawed separatist group, which opposes Chinese-funded projects in Pakistan, claimed responsibility for the attack.