SCO summit: US respects every country's right to form alliances of its choice

### US Respects Sovereign Right to Alliances, Responds to SCO Summit and Nuclear Safety Concerns  

The United States has reaffirmed its respect for every nation’s sovereign right to form alliances and associations of its choosing.  

Addressing a question about the ongoing Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Islamabad, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller emphasized that the US encourages all nations to ensure their participation in multilateral forums aligns with international law and promotes the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence of all member states.

Pakistan is currently hosting the two-day SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting in the federal capital, set to conclude this evening. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will chair the event, with leaders and officials from SCO member states—including Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and the First Vice President of Iran—participating.  

### US Comments on Pakistan's Call for UN Investigation into Nuclear Safety in India  

Responding to another question on Pakistan’s request for the UN Security Council to investigate the theft and illegal sale of nuclear materials in India, Miller stated, “We are aware of Pakistan’s request to the UN Security Council." He reaffirmed the US’s commitment to developing and implementing effective policies to address proliferation risks in partnership with the international community.  

Pakistan had urged the UNSC on October 11 to investigate “recurring incidents” of nuclear and radioactive material thefts in India. This call followed Indian media reports that authorities in Bihar’s Gopalganj district had arrested three smugglers in possession of highly radioactive Californium, which is known to fetch significant value on the global market.  

Pakistan’s permanent representative to the UN, Ambassador Munir Akram, highlighted these concerns during a session of the UNSC committee established under Resolution 1540, which mandates UN member states to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD).  

“The Security Council should be deeply concerned about the recurring incidents of theft and illicit sale of nuclear and radioactive materials in our Eastern neighbor,” Akram warned, underscoring the potential threats these incidents pose to regional and global security.