Context:
During the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ meeting held in China, India refused to endorse the joint statement, citing the absence of strong language against terrorism, particularly in the wake of the Pahalgam attack on April 22.
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a multilateral political, economic, security, and defence organization comprising 10 member states across Eurasia. It represents the world’s largest regional organization by area and population, covering approximately 24% of the world’s landmass and 42% of its population.
- Headquarter:
- Beijing, China
- Secretary-General:
- Nurlan Yermekbayev
Member States
- Founding Members (2001): China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan
- Expanded Members:
- India and Pakistan joined in June 2017
- Iran became a full member in July 2023
- Belarus joined in July 2024
Origins and Development
- Predecessor: Shanghai Five (1996–2000), comprising China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.
- 1996: Treaty on Deepening Military Trust in Border Regions
- 1997: Treaty on Reduction of Military Forces in Border Regions
- Regular summits fostered border cooperation, military trust, and non-interference principles.
- Formation of SCO:
- June 2001: Uzbekistan joined the Shanghai Five members to establish the SCO in Shanghai.
- The group evolved from a confidence-building mechanism to a broader strategic platform for regional stability, economic cooperation, and counter-terrorism.
Structure and Governance
- Heads of State Council (HSC): Supreme decision-making body, meets annually.
- Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS): Coordinates intelligence and counter-terrorism efforts among member states.
Key Principles
- Respect for sovereignty, non-interference, territorial integrity, and collective security.
- Promotion of a multipolar world order and regional integration without external intervention.
TH
