PM Narendra Modi gets invited by Pakistan to attend the SCO meet in Islamabad.
Context
Recently, Prime Narendra Modi was invited by Pakistan to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Government meeting scheduled for October 15-16, 2024.
- SCO Summit was recently concluded in Astana, Kazakhstan.
- It primarily focused on addressing climate change and combating terrorism.
Relevance:
GS – 02 (Regional Groupings, Important International Institutions)
About SCO
- Shanghai Cooperation Organization is an intergovernmental political, economic, and security alliance.
- It was earlier known as “Shangai Five” which was originated in 1996 and has 5 countries, namely, China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.
- It was later established in the year 2001 by adding Uzbekistan as the 6th member.
- Presently, SCO has ten members- India, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Belarus.
- (Belarus – was included as the 10th member in Astana.)
Key Highlights of the recent summit in Astana:
- The summit concluded with key agreements on issues like terrorism and climate change.
- It also included Belarus as the 10th member.
- The 24th SCO adopted Astana declaration and approved 25 strategic agreements on security, trade, finance and energy.
- It also saw the adoption of SCO Development Strategy until 2035 by the member countries on various fields like – separatism, extremism, anti-drug strategy, combating terrorism and combat illicit drug trafficking, etc.,
- In the event, Make in India program was also highlighted as a fuel to global economic growth.
- India’s External Affairs Minister and the Chinese Foreign Minister emphasised the need for “complete disengagement” of troops and restoring peace along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
Significance
- As it primarily has Asian countries, it focuses mostly on- regional security issues, against regional terrorism, ethnic separatism, and religious extremism,
- It aims to promote regional development as it represents 40% of the global population and contributes more than USD 20 trillion to global GDP .
- The organization not only focuses on terrorism and regional security but also on drug trafficking and military cooperation.
- The At the global level, SCO and BRICS put together is seen as a counterbalance to US influence in global affairs.
Relevance of SCO for India
- The Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure (RATS) within the SCO supports counter-terrorism efforts. It also aids in combating drug trafficking.
- SCO’s advanced connectivity and infrastructure helps India in achieving its own priorities of enhancing connectivity with its neighbours and improving its own infrastructure.
- It helps India to access investment opportunities, technological advancements and markets through its member countries. It also deepens India’s multilateral diplomacy with its member countries.
- It shall also widen India’s aspirations to advance India’s connect Asia policy.
