Source: TOI
Context: Leaders of the 10 SCO member states — including India, Russia and China — concluded the 26th Council of Heads of State summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, by signing the joint Bishkek Declaration.
The Summit
- Host: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
- Chair: President Sadyr Japarov of the Kyrgyz Republic
- Theme (2026): “25 Years of the SCO: Together for Sustainable Peace, Development and Prosperity”
- Presidency handover: to Pakistan for the 2026-2027 tenure
Key Outcomes of the SCO Declaration
- No double standards on terrorism: Condemned terrorism in all forms; called for action against cross-border terrorism, safe havens and terror financing.
- No extremist proxies: Rejected the use of terrorist/separatist groups for strategic purposes and stressed state responsibility.
- Iran strikes condemned: Opposed unilateral military strikes on Iran and called for diplomacy.
- SCO is not a military bloc: Reaffirmed sovereignty, non-interference and that SCO is not directed against any country.
- Energy & food security: Warned that Strait of Hormuz disruptions could threaten global energy and food security.
- Financial cooperation: Supported national-currency trade, alternative payment systems and discussions on an SCO Development Bank.
- Connectivity: Supported CKU Railway and INSTC, while stressing sovereignty and territorial integrity—important for India’s position on BRI/CPEC.
- Youth & innovation: Institutionalised the SCO Young Scientists Forum and Start-up Forum.
Important Facts for Exams
- 26th SCO Council of Heads of State summit, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
- Chair: President Sadyr Japarov; presidency to Pakistan for 2026-27
- Theme: “25 Years of the SCO”
- 10 member states; SCO founded 2001 in Shanghai from the Shanghai Five
- Secretariat at Beijing; RATS at Tashkent
- India and Pakistan joined 2017; Iran 2023; Belarus 2024
- INSTC — International North-South Transport Corridor, linking India to Russia via Iran
- CKU — China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway
- The Declaration explicitly states the SCO is not a military-political alliance
