The Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) — a regional bloc linking several countries across South and Central Asia and beyond — has postponed its ECO Interior Ministers' Conference that was due in Islamabad on 29 and 30 October.
Diplomatic sources said the ECO Secretariat in Tehran has formally informed all member countries. The move follows heightened tensions and an evolving security picture in the Middle East, which led the organisation to rethink the timing of the high-level meeting.
Why the meeting was put off
The conference was meant to bring together interior ministers and senior security officials from ECO member states to discuss issues of mutual concern. Under the ECO framework, the agenda was to cover regional cooperation on interior affairs and related security matters.
Officials linked the deferral to the prevailing situation in the Middle East. The organisation judged that conditions made this an unsuitable moment to hold the gathering as planned in the Pakistani capital.
What happens next
Revised dates have not been announced. The ECO Secretariat is expected to consult member countries before fixing a new schedule. Subject to those talks and agreement among participating states, the conference is now most likely to take place in 2027.
Until then, the discussions that were to be held under the ECO umbrella on interior and security cooperation will wait for the rescheduled meeting.
Aasan alfaaz mein
ECO ka interior ministers ka conference jo Islamabad mein 29 aur 30 October ko hona tha, ab postpone ho gaya hai. Wajah Middle East ki tense soorat-e-haal batayi gayi hai. Nayi tareekhein abhi nahi aayi; baat cheet ke baad yeh conference zyada imkan hai 2027 mein ho. Is se aam logon ke rozmarra ke bills seedhay nahi badalte, lekin regional security cooperation ki baat aage chalegi jab meeting dubara set hogi.
