Asian security group meets in Pakistan to discuss security and economic ties

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Officials from an international security group founded to counter Western alliances met in Pakistan's capital on Wednesday to discuss how to boost security cooperation and economic ties.

The meeting of the heads of the council of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization began with opening remarks from the host country's leader, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, whose government is struggling against insurgencies and one of the country's worst economic crises.

SCO was founded in 2001 by China and Russia to counter Western alliances. Other members include Iran, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Sharif thanked the guests for attending, saying “your presence here today underscores our shared commitment to fulfilling the aspirations of our people to ensure collective security and to enhance mutually beneficial cooperation for sustainable development and prosperity of the SCO region.”

Sharif also called for a peaceful Afghanistan, and said its soil should not be used for violence against any country.

Sharif's remarks came amid a surge in violence for which Pakistan blames the militants who are based in Afghanistan. However, Kabul has denied the charge, with Afghanistan's Taliban government saying it does not allow anyone to use its soil for violence against any country, including Pakistan.

Pakistan deployed troops and additional police in Islamabad to ensure security during the SCO meeting. The measures virtually locked down the capital, making it difficult even for ambulances to pass through.

The SCO meetings came more than a week after two Chinese engineers were killed in a suicide bombing outside the airport in Karachi, the capital of southern Sindh province.

An outlawed separatist group, which opposes Chinese-funded projects in Pakistan, claimed responsibility for the attack. Thousands of Chinese are currently working on projects related to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, a global endeavor aimed at reconstituting the Silk Road and linking China to all corners of Asia.

In Pakistan, it has been billed as a massive development program that will bring new prosperity to the South Asian nation.

Among those attending the SCO meeting were Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, and the prime ministers of Kyrgyzstan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Mongolia.

Sharif said the next meeting of SCO will be held in Russia in 2025.

Authorities were expected to release a joint statement later Wednesday,

In this photo released by the Press Information Department, India's Minister for External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, left, shakes hand with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as he arrives to attend Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. (Press Information Department via AP)

In this photo released by the Press Information Department, Iranian Minister for Industry, Trade and Mining Seyed Mohammad Atabak, left, shakes hand with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as he arrives to attend Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. (Press Information Department via AP)

In this photo released by the Press Information Department, China's Premier Li Qiang, left, shakes hand with his Pakistani counterpart Shehbaz Sharif as he arrives to attend Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. (Press Information Department via AP)

In this photo released by the Press Information Department, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, left, shakes hand with his Pakistani counterpart Shehbaz Sharif as he arrives to attend Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. (Press Information Department via AP)

In this photo released by the Press Information Department, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, center, China's Premier Li Qiang, fifth left, Belarus Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko, fourth left, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, sixth right, Kazakhstan's Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, fifth right, Tajikistan's Prime Minister Kokhir Rasulzoda, fourth right, and other leaders pose for group photo at the opening session of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting in Islamabad, Pakistan, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. (Press Information Department via AP)

In this photo released by the Press Information Department, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, center, delivers his speech at the opening session of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. (Press Information Department via AP)

In this photo released by the Press Information Department, China's Premier Li Qiang delivers his speech at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. (Press Information Department via AP)

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, left, Chinese Premier Li Qiang, center, and Mongolian Prime Minister Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene pose for a photo on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Heads of Governments Summit in Islamabad, Pakistan, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. (Roman Naumov, Sputnik, Government Pool Photo via AP)

Chinese Premier Li Qiang, right, and Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin pose for a photo on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Heads of Governments Summit in Islamabad, Pakistan, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. (Roman Naumov, Sputnik, Government Pool Photo via AP)

Chinese Premier Li Qiang, left, and Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin pose for a photo on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Heads of Governments Summit in Islamabad, Pakistan, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. (Alexander Miridonov, Sputnik, Government Pool Photo via AP)

LONDON (AP) — Thomas Tuchel was hired as England coach on Wednesday and will take on the challenge of ending the national team's decades-long wait for a trophy.

The German, who previously managed Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Bayern Munich, will begin his tenure in January ahead of the 2026 World Cup in the United States.

The English Football Association said Tuchel had been identified as the “preferred candidate” after what it described as an extensive search to replace Gareth Southgate, who stepped down after the European Championship in July.

Tuchel won major trophies in Germany, France and England and is England's third foreign coach, after the late Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello. He succeeds one of England's most successful coaches in Southgate, who led the country to back-to-back European Championship finals and a World Cup semifinals.

Southgate stepped down after eight years following defeat to Spain in the final of Euro 2024.

The FA said it had interviewed several candidates before deciding on Tuchel.

Tuchel won European club soccer’s biggest prize when leading Chelsea to the Champions League title in 2021. He has won league titles with PSG in France and Bayern in Germany.

He takes on the England job after leaving Bayern at the end of last season.

The 51-year-old Tuchel fits the FA’s remit of hiring a coach who has delivered at the highest level and also knows the English game following his time with Chelsea.

The FA said in July that it wanted someone with “significant experience of English football, with a strong track record delivering results in the Premier League and/or leading international competitions.”

It also said the new coach would develop the team to “win a major tournament and be consistently ranked as one of the top teams in the world.”

As manager of Chelsea, Tuchel beat Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City to win the Champions League within months of taking the job. He also won the UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup with the Premier League club.

England’s only major trophy was the World Cup in 1966.

James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson

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FILE - Chelsea's head coach Thomas Tuchel reacts during the Champions League final soccer match between Manchester City and Chelsea at the Dragao Stadium in Porto, Portugal, Saturday, May 29, 2021. (Pierre Philippe Marcou/Pool via AP, File)

FILE - Bayern's head coach Thomas Tuchel reacts during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Leipzig and Bayern Munich, at the Red Bull Arena stadium in Leipzig, Germany, Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, File)

FILE - Chelsea's head coach Thomas Tuchel celebrates with the trophy after winning the Champions League final soccer match against Manchester City at the Dragao Stadium in Porto, Portugal, Saturday, May 29, 2021. (Susana Vera/Pool via AP, File)