Why is it in the news?

• External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will travel to Islamabad, Pakistan, to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) ‘Heads of Government’ meeting on October 15-16.
• This invitation to India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi was extended by Pakistan in August.

Origins of the SCO

• The SCO has its origins in the “Shanghai Five,” formed in 1996 by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.
• Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, concerns arose regarding extremist groups and ethnic tensions in the region and to address these issues, a cooperative grouping focused on security matters was created.
• The SCO was officially established on June 15, 2001, in Shanghai, adding Uzbekistan as a sixth member.
• It now includes nine members: India, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, while Afghanistan and Mongolia hold Observer Status.

Significance of the SCO

• The significance of the SCO lies in its unique focus on security issues among primarily Asian members. Regional powerhouses Russia and China view it as an alternative to a “Western” international order.
• Alongside the BRICS grouping, which includes India, South Africa, and Brazil, Russia and China are positioning themselves against U.S. influence. However, despite their declared “limitless friendship,” competition exists between China and Russia over influence in the SCO.
• Central Asian republics, traditionally seen as under Russian influence, have also become targets of Chinese investments through major infrastructure projects as part of its Belt and Road Initiative.

Geopolitical Dynamics

• The inclusion of India and Pakistan in the SCO in 2017 highlighted this geopolitical jostling. While Russia supported India’s entry, China backed Pakistan to maintain a balance of power.
• The SCO’s recent expansion can also be viewed in the context of deteriorating U.S. relations with both Russia and China, with events such as the 2022 Russia-Ukraine War prompting further inclusivity.
• For instance, Iran’s inclusion was seen as a move to enhance the organization’s international status and break its diplomatic isolation from the U.S.

Limitations of the SCO

• Despite its significance, tangible outcomes from the SCO may be limited. An article in the Financial Times noted that the organization’s ambiguous parameters allow countries to overlook rivalries without resolving them. Thus, it accommodates both Pakistan and India, despite their hostile relations.
• Tensions between India and China also pose challenges, with India opting for a virtual summit during its presidency last year instead of an in-person meeting.

India’s engagement with the SCO

• For India, SCO membership provides a platform to enhance cooperation with Central Asian countries, which have not historically maintained close relations with India.
• It facilitates communication on common security issues, notably through the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS), which aids in counter-terrorism exercises and intelligence sharing among member states.
• However, the effectiveness of the SCO is questioned given the complex relationships among its members, particularly India’s strained ties with both China and Pakistan.