War against terror not just for Pakistan: Sharif tells SCO

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday asserted that Islamabad's fight against terrorism was not solely for Pakistan's safety but for the whole region.

"Pakistan's fight against terrorism, including the military operation (Zarb-e-Azb), is not merely for the protection of Pakistan but it is equally critical for the whole region as well as the international community," Sharif told the 15th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)Summit here.

Sharif observed that the SCO partners have an ambitious agenda to achieve.

"We must ensure regional stability and further economic integration to realise our goals. We must work together to mitigate differences, resolve outstanding disputes and create a favourable environment for the betterment of our peoples. This is how the true Shanghai spirit will be fully realised," Pakistani media cited Sharif as saying.

Leaders of the SCO states signed documents at the summit to provide an observer status to Belarus and dialogue partner status to Azerbaijan, Armenia, Cambodia and Nepal, while starting the procedures to make Pakistan and India full members of the bloc.