The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, held in Islamabad on October 15-16, 2024, gathered high-level officials from member states to address regional security, economic cooperation, and terrorism. India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, along with leaders from China, Russia, Iran, and Central Asian countries, attended the event. Despite strained India-Pakistan relations and ongoing China-India border disputes, the summit provided a platform for multilateral dialogue, but no bilateral talks were expected.
Participants: Leaders from India, China, Russia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Mongolia participated, with Belarus joining as the newest member.
Security Focus: The summit emphasized combating terrorism and regional stability through SCO’s Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) and cross-border cooperation.
Economic Cooperation: Discussions also revolved around energy, climate change, and infrastructure projects, with India advocating for the IMEC and Chabahar initiatives for improved connectivity.
Geopolitical Tensions: India maintained its stance on countering cross-border terrorism and addressed tensions with China over the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
Internal Challenges in Pakistan: The summit was marked by political unrest in Pakistan, with protests against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government and heightened security measures.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is a permanent intergovernmental international organization established on June 15, 2001, in Shanghai, China. Its primary aim is to promote cooperation in political, economic, and security-related matters, especially across Eurasia. It is now one of the largest regional organizations in the world.
Founding Members: China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
Expansion: India and Pakistan joined as full members in 2017, and Iran became a member in 2023. Belarus was added as the 10th member in 2024.
Headquarters: Based in Beijing, China.
Main Goals: To foster peace, security, and stability in the region, counter terrorism, separatism, and extremism, and promote economic cooperation among member states.
Heads of State Council: The highest decision-making body.
Heads of Government Council: Focuses on economic issues.
Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS): Focused on combating terrorism, extremism, and separatism.
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