21ST SCO SUMMIT TO BE HELD IN TAJIKISTAN
The 21st meeting of the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) Council of Heads of State will be held on September 17 in Dushanbe, Tajikistan in a hybrid format. The meeting will be chaired by Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the Indian delegation and address the plenary session of the SCO Summit via video-link, External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar will represent the country in Dushanbe. The Summit will be attended by the leaders of the SCO member states, observer states, secretary general of the SCO, executive director of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS), Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow and other invited guests. This is the first SCO Summit being held in a hybrid format and the fourth that India will participate in as a full-fledged member of SCO. This Summit assumes significance as the organization is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. At the Summit, the leaders are expected to review the organization's activities over the past two decades and discuss the state and prospects of future cooperation. Topical issues of regional and international importance are also expected to be discussed.
STAND OF MEMBER NATIONS AT THE SUMMIT
- India’s Stand: It took a strong stance against radicalisation and extremism, urging the panel to come up with a joint approach and frame a code of conduct to stop terror financing and cross-border terrorism. It also stressed upon the importance of moderate Islam in Central Asia. Flagged concerns over the serious humanitarian crisis unfolding in Afghanistan, noting that the economic woes of the Afghan people are increasing due to the blockage in financial and trade flows. Pointed out that the developments in the country could lead to an uncontrolled flow of drugs, illegal weapons and human trafficking. It is committed to increasing its connectivity with Central Asia. Asserting that there should be respect for the territorial integrity of all countries.
- Pakistan's Stand: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said that a "new reality" has been established in Afghanistan after the Taliban seized power in Kabul and it is now in the international community’s "collective interest" to ensure that there is no renewed conflict in the war-torn country and it will never again become a safe haven for terrorists. Pakistan, which had suffered due to the spillover of conflict and instability in Afghanistan, had an interest in a peaceful and stable Afghanistan.
- China' Stand: Chinese President Xi Jinping too called for a stable government in Afghanistan, saying, “The withdrawal of foreign troops has opened a new page in its history. But Afghanistan still faces many daunting challenges, and it needs the support and assistance of the international community, particularly countries in our region,” reported India Today.
- Russia's Stand: Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the Afghanistan government formed by the Taliban is not representative and inclusive, but it is essential to work with it as he stressed on the need to coordinate the stance of other countries on the issue of recognition. Meanwhile Putin hailed the decision to grant dialogue partner status in the SCO to Egypt, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. He urged members to provide all possible assistance to the start of an inclusive intra-Afghan peace process and at the "same time to do everything to block the threats of terrorism, drug trafficking, religious extremism emanating from this country." Iran's membership was welcomed by Putin as well.
- Iran: Speaking in the Tajik capital Dushanbe, Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi thanked the SCO's eight members for supporting its bid. Joining the bloc would have an "important impact" on Tehran's cooperation with the countries. SCO leaders did not announce a timeline for bloc observer Iran's membership.
WHY THE SCO SUMMIT?
Members of the China and Russia-led Shanghai Cooperation Organization on Friday endorsed Iran's future membership of the bloc that already includes South Asian rivals India and Pakistan. The move comes as Moscow and Beijing have moved to assert themselves as key players in the region, after the United States' hasty retreat from Afghanistan and the Taliban's takeover of the country. The organisation seeks to combat ethnic separatism, religious extremism and terrorism in Central Asia. Tehran applied for full SCO membership in 2008 but its bid was slowed by the sanctions imposed on the country by the United Nations and the United States over its nuclear programme. The accession of Pakistan and India to the SCO in 2017 raised questions about the future direction of cooperation in the group. Iran's membership could pose fresh geopolitical complications. Apart from Moscow and Beijing, other founding members of the SCO are former Soviet Central Asian states Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Afghanistan holds observer status at the SCO, but was not invited to observe proceedings in Dushanbe in the wake of the Taliban's seizure of power.
SHANGHAI COOPERATION ORGANISATION (SCO)
- It is a permanent intergovernmental international It was created in 2001. The SCO Charter was signed in 2002, and entered into force in 2003. It’s a Eurasian political, economic and military organisation aiming to maintain peace, security and stability in the region. It is seen as a counterweight to North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), It is a nine-member economic and security bloc and has emerged as one of the largest transregional international organisations.
- Official Languages: Russian and Chinese.
- Permanent Bodies: SCO Secretariat in Beijing, Executive Committee of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) in Tashkent.
- Chairmanship: It is by rotation for a year by Member States.
- Genesis: Prior to the creation of SCO in 2001, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan were members of the Shanghai Five. Shanghai Five (1996) emerged from a series of border demarcation and demilitarization talks which the four former Soviet republics held with China to ensure stability along the borders. Following the accession of Uzbekistan to the organisation in 2001, the Shanghai Five was renamed the SCO. India and Pakistan became members in 2017. Iran is the ninth and the newest member of SCO. India was made an observer at the SCO in 2005 and has generally participated in the ministerial-level meetings of the grouping which focus mainly on security and economic cooperation in the Eurasian region.
TEST YOURSELF
Q.1 The 21st meeting of the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation) Council of Heads of State will be in __________ in a hybrid format?
- Tehran, Iran
- Tashkent, Uzbekistan
- Shanghai, China
- Dushanbe, Tajikistan: ANSWER
Q.2 Which of the following issues dominated the SCO talks in which the Indian delegation was led by PM Narendra Modi?
- Taliban's takeover in Afghanistan: ANSWER
- Climate Policy & Cutting Carbon emissions
- Conflict of interest between Israel & Palestine
- All of the above
Q.3 Consider the given statements & state which of the following is/are correct in the reference to the above mentioned passage?
- The Indian delegation, a member of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) since 2017, was led by External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar virtually.
- Iran has been accepted as the ninth full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
- Only I follows
- Only II follows: ANSWER
- Both I & II follows
- None of the above
Q.4 Consider the given options, which of the following countries is not the member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization?
- Kazakhstan
- India
- United States of America: ANSWER
- Kyrgyzstan
Q.5 Which of the following statements is/are incorrect in the reference to the India relationship with Shanghai Cooperation Organization?
- SCO will enable India, as an integral part of the Eurasian security grouping, to neutralise threats like religious extremism and terrorism in the region.
- India has shown keen interest in deepening its security-related cooperation with the SCO and its Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure (RATS), which specifically deals with issues relating to security and defence.
- Only I follows
- Only II follows
- Both I & II follows
- None of the above: ANSWER
