Pakistan is set to host a two-day regional summit starting on Tuesday amid a precarious security situation that has prevented such gatherings in the past.
The 23rd summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) – which was founded by Russia, China and other countries to discuss security issues – is to focus on regional cooperation, trade, and financial integrity among member states, the foreign ministry said.
Seven prime minsters, including from long-time ally China, and the foreign minister of arch-rival India are attending the summit in locked down Islamabad.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will chair the Council of the Heads of Government (CHG) session and is expected to hold meetings with regional leaders on the sidelines of the event.
Bilateral talks between Pakistan and India are not expected.
More than 10,000 police, paramilitary and army personnel have been deployed while markets and schools are closed for three days in the capital.
The arrangements reflect uncertain security situation amid a surge in violence by various separatist groups.
Earlier this month, the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) killed two Chinese engineers in Karachi and 20 miners in a separate attack.
On Monday, at least five militants were killed when they tried to storm a police headquarters in Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
