The Hindu Editorial Analysis- 6th July 2023 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Diminishing returns

Why in News?

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation-Council of Heads of State meeting, hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, marked the first time India chaired the summit of regional countries. India became a full SCO member in 2017, along with Pakistan.

Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO):

• About:
  • It is a permanent intergovernmental international organisation of Eurasian Nations with a secretariat in Beijing.
• Aim:
  • It is a political, economic and military organisation that aims at maintaining peace, security and stability in the region.
• Origin: Journey from Shanghai Five to SCO 
  • Shanghai Five emerged in 1996 from a series of border demarcation and demilitarization talks between 4 former USSR republics and China.
  • Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan were members of the Shanghai Five.
  • With the accession of Uzbekistan to the group in 2001, the Shanghai Five was renamed the SCO.
  • The SCO Charter was signed in 2002 and entered into force in 2003.
• Inclusion of India & Pakistan:
  • India and Pakistan both were initially observer states.
  • Both were given full membership in 2017.
• Members:
  • Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India, and Pakistan.
• Language: 
  • The SCO's official languages are Russian and Chinese.
• Structure of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation:
  • Heads of State Council:
    • It is the supreme SCO body that decides its internal functioning and its interaction with other States & international organisations.
    • It also considers contemporary international issues.
  • Heads of Government Council:
    • It approves the budget, considers and decides upon issues related to economic spheres of interaction within SCO.
  • Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs:
    • It considers issues related to day-to-day activities.
• Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS):
  • It was established to combat terrorism, separatism and extremism.
• SCO Secretariat: 
  • It is based in Beijing. 
  • It provides informational, analytical & organisational support.

Significance of SCO for India:

• Regional Integration:
  • SCO can help in achieving regional integration and promote connectivity and stability across borders.
  • Further, it also helps India to have a multilateral talk with friends like Russia and adversaries like China and Pakistan.
• Regional Connectivity:
  • Although India opposes the Border and Road Initiative due to CPEC, it understands the importance of connectivity with Central Asian Nations.
  • With Afghanistan and Pakistan are adverse as of now, SCO can help in connectivity with Central Asia.
• Security:
  • RATS can help India to improve its counterterrorism abilities by working toward intelligence sharing, law enforcement and developing best practices and technologies.
  • Through the SCO, India can also work on anti-drug trafficking and small arms proliferation.
• Challenges of terrorism and radicalisation:
  • The whole of Central Asia is aware of the Taliban and ISKP in Afghanistan which mandates regional cooperation.
• Geopolitical Advantage:
  • Central Asia is a part of India's Extended Neighbourhood.
  • And SCO provides India with an opportunity to pursue the “Connect Central Asian Policy”.
  • It will also help India to check on the ever-growing influence of China in Eurasia.