Recently, the 21st Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State was held. This meeting was conducted virtually, with the participants conferencing in from Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The primary point of discussion at this event was the existing situation in Afghanistan and its potential global implications. An important development from this summit was the inclusion of Iran as the ninth full member of the SCO.
India’s Position and Stand at the Summit
During the summit, India expressed a strong opposition to radicalisation and extremism. It encouraged the panel to devise a unified strategy and construct a code of conduct to halt funding for terrorism and cross-border terrorist activities. Furthermore, India emphasised the significance of moderate Islam in Central Asia.
India voiced deep concern over the serious humanitarian crisis that is currently developing in Afghanistan. It pointed out that the Afghan people’s economic difficulties are escalating owing to financial and trade blockages. Additionally, India highlighted that the current developments within the country could result in unregulated movement of drugs, illegal weapons and human trafficking. India reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing its connectivity with Central Asia and insisted on mutual respect for the territorial integrity of all nations.
Overview of The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation
The SCO is a permanent intergovernmental international organisation established in 2001. Since the signing of the SCO Charter in 2002 and its effective enactment in 2003, the SCO has served as a Eurasian political, economic, and military organisation striving to ensure peace, stability, and security in the region.
Viewed as a counterpoint to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the eight-member SCO represents one of the largest transregional international organisations. It primarily communicates in its two official languages, Russian and Chinese.
Permanent Bodies of SCO
The SCO has two primary bodies: the SCO Secretariat in Beijing and the Executive Committee of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) based in Tashkent. Leadership of the organisation rotates annually among member states.
The Creation and Expansion of SCO
Before the establishment of the SCO, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan were part of the ‘Shanghai Five.’ The group, which originated from border demarcation and demilitarization discussions held with China by the four former Soviet republics in 1996, was designed to ensure stability along their borders.
Joining the group in 2001, Uzbekistan led to the renaming of the Shanghai Five to the SCO. Both India and Pakistan became members in 2017, and Iran recently joined as the ninth and newest member. In 2005, the SCO granted India observer status, allowing it to participate mostly in ministerial-level meetings focusing on security and economic cooperation within the Eurasian region.
