by Santosh Mathew 9 August 2023
A permanent international intergovernmental organisation called the SCO was established in 2001. A political, economic, and security alliance in Eurasia, SCO is working to keep the area safe, secure, and stable. In 2003, the SCO Charter came into effect after being signed in 2002. The Shanghai Five, which included Tajikistan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Russia, existed prior to the establishment of the SCO in 2001. The four former Soviet republics and China held a number of boundary demarcation and demilitarisation negotiations to maintain peace along the borders. These talks resulted in the Shanghai Five. The Shanghai Five became to be known as the SCO after Uzbekistan joined the group in 2001. Pakistan and India joined in 2017.Iran will join as a full member as declared on September 17, 2021. Currently the members are Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India, Pakistan and Iran.
India and Pakistan eventually became members of this Forum after a number of years due to the geographic linkages between South Asia, Central Asia, and Eurasia and their importance to the security concerns of the region. It was a move that not only revamped the organization, but made it relevant in the South Asian context. Its capacity has significantly grown with the SCO’s official admission of Pakistan and India. Therefore, the SCO region of effort application becomes significantly blurred as the list of members grows. The conventional focus that has been on Central Asian States for a long time will now inevitably turn to South Asia. In light of the SCO expansion, it is still crucial to maintain the fundamental tenets of the organization’s operation, the balance of power between the major and minor members, and the need to resolve the current hot topic of SCO project financing mechanisms. Additionally, the SCO operations clearly reflect the worsening of the geopolitical situation in the world. The competition between the major powers, including the SCO members, has changed its focus.
The SCO wants to improve ties amongst its members. However, the relations between India, Pakistan, Russia, and China produce a complex matrix of divergent and conflicting interests. As an example, China has not been very respectful of the international system of rules. Human rights abuses, “chequebook” and “wolf warrior” diplomacy, as well as other issues, cast serious doubt on China’s dedication to the SCO’s goals. Furthermore, China has pushed its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) initiatives through SCO under the pretence of economic cooperation. The SCO works to maintain regional stability, security, and peace. However, it is alleged that China (in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Ladakh), Russia (in Ukraine), and Pakistan (in Jammu and Kashmir) are responsible for undermining regional peace, security, and stability. India’s stated objective of pursuing “multi-alignments” and “strategic autonomy” includes participation in the SCO. South Asia’s sovereignty and integrity are seriously threatened by the problems of terrorism, radicalization, and instability. The Regional Anti-Terror Structure (RATS), a counterterrorism arm of the SCO, would be advantageous for South Asia in this situation. Through collaboration in the areas of education, medical, tourism, etc., SCO may play a significant role in strengthening people-to-people engagement. The SCO, which unites four nuclear powers—or half of the nuclear States in the world—into a single regional organisation, acts as an extra deterrent within the framework designed to preserve the strategic balance of power and political stability throughout the world.
A high-level international conference with the theme “Central and South Asia: Regional Connectivity. Challenges and Opportunities” was held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Ashraf Ghani emphasised the significance of rebuilding the historical ties between the two areas on the basis of shared trust and objectives. According to President of Uzbekistan, the globe has entered a period of significant geopolitical change, and the process of reviving mutual links between Central and South Asia—home to almost two billion people—is becoming more and more difficult and objective. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also spoke to the international gathering online. According to him, connectivity is essential for sustained development and economic progress, fostering regional collaboration and cordial ties between close and distant neighbours. He called for a proactive and group effort to assist the stability and peace of Afghanistan. According to Dr. Jaishankar, Iran’s Chabahar port offers Central Asian nations “secure, viable, and unhindered access to the sea”. It has been suggested that the port be a part of the INSTC, or International North-South Transport Corridor. An India, Uzbekistan, Iran, and Afghanistan Quadrilateral Working Group has been established to discuss the shared usage of Chabahar Port; it may be added. The Tashkent conference was successful in increasing interest in reuniting Central Asia and South Asia. Uzbekistan is a doubly landlocked nation and part of the landlocked region of Central Asia. For the region’s economies, smooth surface connectivity is crucial. India and other nations in the region as well as the international community support Uzbekistan’s initiative. However, the security situation in Afghanistan remains a concern in connecting the two regions.
Central Asia is a key connectivity gateway for South Asia to Russia and the Middle East, both of which are influential nerve centres for multiple South Asian states. The growing global curiosity, regional interest, and interest of many countries in SCO membership demonstrate the growing importance of SCO. Russia’s Special Military Operation (SMO) has accelerated the process of multipolarity where the voices of the Global South play an important strategic role. The SCO has become one of the meeting places of countries committed to multipolarity as well as regional stability. India has an interest in making SCO a dynamic forum. The interest of India in trade, economic growth and projecting its external and economic policies outside South Asia is fulfilled by SCO. No doubt, India will work with all partners in SCO to ensure its growth and stability as it contributes to maintaining the stability of the whole of this region. India has long-term interest in SCO and regards as a regional group to encourage cooperation in various areas based on internationally accepted principles of good governance, the rule of law and transparency and equity. The SCO provides an opportunity for India to interact with its traditional ally Russia, as well as with its adversaries China and Pakistan, and to pursue the “Connect Central Asia Policy”(CCAP).