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Military airfield, machine gunners in a hotel and a concert for the media: how Pakistan is hosting the SCO summit. Photo report
Pakistan will host the SCO summit on October 15-16. Government journalists were the first to arrive in the capital, Islamabad. And what immediately caught my eye was the unprecedented security measures.
Russian Air Force planes landed at a military airfield. On the way to Islamabad and to the hotel, soldiers stood along the road in pickup trucks, one by one or in groups, literally 20-30 meters apart. Residents were banned from entering the so-called "red zone." In addition, the capital of Pakistan declared a state holiday these days in connection with the summit.
Security measures were also taken at the hotels where the government pool journalists were staying. There were armed men outside and two or three people on the floor outside the room. Inside the hotel, security personnel carefully inspected the luggage of each guest. All rooms were sealed before check-in.
The inconvenience of the presence of so many armed people was compensated by the hospitality of the Pakistanis. A reception was organized especially for journalists, after which a concert was held. Familiarization with the cuisine and culture of the country has long been an integral part of cooperation between the SCO countries.
It should be noted that the Pakistani side has taken unprecedented security measures amid threats from the Balochistan Liberation Army, which has announced plans to disrupt the summit in Islamabad. The SCO currently includes 10 countries: Iran, India, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Pakistan, Uzbekistan and Belarus.