SHANGHAICOOPERATION ORGANISATION (SCO)
SCO is a permanent inter-governmental international organization with the main goal of strengthening mutual trust and neighborliness among member states. It is a Eurasian political, economic, and security alliance.
Guiding Principle:
- Internal policy: Based on principles of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, mutual consultations, respect for cultural diversity, and a desire for common development.
- External policy: In accordance with principles of non-alignment, non-targeting any third country, and openness.
Current Incidences:
- India and Pakistan joined SCO as full members in 2017.
- Three years after joining the eight-nation SCO, India hosted the SCO heads of governments (HoG) meeting for the first time.
- SCO adopted a 66-point joint communiqué at the end of the virtual conference, developing a “Plan of Priority Practical Measures for 2021-2022 to overcome the socio-economic, financial and food consequences of COVID-19 in the region.”
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The SCO covers:
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Significance of SCO to India
- Security
- Controlling regional terrorism: SCO’s defense-centric structures and activities of RATS have achieved considerable success in curbing regional terrorism.
- 3 evil mantra: The fight against the “three evils” of terrorism, separatism, and extremism has become a guiding principle for SCO.
- Access to intelligence and information: Main functions of SCO-RATS include coordination and information sharing, aiding informed decision-making.
- Economic
- Market access: SCO can be used as a route to access markets in member countries and other Central Asian countries for India’s IT, telecommunications, banking, and pharmaceutical industries.
- Resource rich: Central Asian Region (CAR) is rich in resources such as iron ore, coal, oil, gas, gold, lead, zinc, molybdenum, uranium, and energy. India can play a proactive role in extraction processes.
- Potential FTA: Members can collaborate to formulate a Free Trade Agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union.
- Energy Security
- Rich in minerals: CAR and Russia are endowed with vital minerals and natural resources. Interactions through SCO ensure easy access.
- Alternative source: SCO can help India cater to its energy needs and prevent reliance on situations like the Iran-US conflict, by exploring Iran’s alternatives.
- Project push: India’s pending energy projects like the TAPI pipeline, IPI (Iran-Pakistan-India) pipeline, and CASA (Central Asia-South Asia)-1000 electricity transmission projects—all blocked due to Pakistan—may gain momentum through SCO.
- Foreign Policy
- Connect Central Asia Policy: India aims to build political, security, economic, and cultural connections with Central Asian countries. This aligns with India’s principle of “Extended Neighbourhood.”
- Multi-alignment: SCO aligns with India’s policy of pursuing “multi-alignments.”
- Counter China & Pakistan: India can check increasing Chinese influence in Eurasia and prevent anti-Indian rhetoric at SCO from Pakistan.
- A stable Afghanistan: Stability in Afghanistan is crucial for India. Projects like the TAPI Pipeline and Hajigak mines depend on Afghan stability.
- Participant in the political dynamics of Afghanistan: After the withdrawal of US and NATO forces, SCO may play a more prominent role in Afghanistan.
- Enhance diplomatic ties: SCO provides a platform for dialogue with countries like Russia, China, Pakistan, and other Central Asian countries.
- Political
- Pan Asia Player: SCO membership will allow India to be a major pan-Asian player, moving beyond the South Asian Region.
- Improve bilateral ties: At SCO annual summits, India has the opportunity to renew bilateral ties with regional countries.
- This forum provides India greater visibility in Eurasian affairs.
- India can counter Pakistan’s influence in Central Asia.
How India’s inclusion will help SCO
- Strengthen SCO’s multi-vector foreign policies: Ensures no single power dominates Central Asia.
- Bringing rich experience: India’s multilateral diplomacy experience, like NAM, enriches SCO.
- Access to Indian Ocean for SCO’s landlocked countries: Facilitates integration into the global economy.
- Fostering socio-economic development: India’s expertise in skill development, capacity building, and human resource development supports SCO.
Challenges for India at SCO
- Presence of both India and Pakistan: May limit SCO’s effectiveness, as seen in SAARC.
- One Belt One Road (OBOR) Initiative of China: India is the only SCO country not joining OBOR. China may use SCO to pressure India on OBOR.
- Relations with USA:
- SCO’s vision shared by Russia and China involves a “new order” aimed against the West, which could impact India’s US relations.
- SCO is seen as a counterweight to NATO.
- Terrorism Prism: China and India have differing views on terrorism, particularly regarding Pakistan.
- Trust deficit: Growing Russia-China closeness complicates India’s position due to the China-Pakistan axis within SCO, risking India’s isolation in the organization.
- Lack of connectivity with Central Asia and beyond: Strategic denial of direct land connectivity through Pakistan limits India’s trade with Central Asia, which stands at $2 billion compared to China’s over $50 billion.
- Definition of Terrorism: India’s definition of terrorism differs from SCO’s under RATS, with India emphasizing state-sponsored cross-border terrorism, whereas SCO links terrorism to regime destabilization.
Use of SCO by India till now
- Sovereignty: The Indian Prime Minister has indirectly referred to Chinese infrastructure projects in POK and India-China tensions at LAC, urging SCO members to respect “territorial integrity” and “sovereignty” of each other.
- Reformed Multilateralism: In the context of the fallout of the pandemic and the economic downturn, India sought support of the SCO members in attaining a reformed multilateralism.
- Organised Crime: India highlighted the challenges posed by the smuggling of illegal weapons, drugs, and money laundering.
- Connectivity: PM highlighted India’s role in supporting infrastructure and connectivity development projects in the SCO region.
- Example: Chabahar port.
- HEALTH Vision: The PM of India, in the Bishkek Summit, presented his vision for the organization in the form of HEALTH which closely tied with the declaration:
- Healthcare cooperation,
- Economic cooperation,
- Alternate energy,
- Literature and culture,
- Terrorism-free society, and
- Humanitarian cooperation.
- Strengthening Cultural Heritage: The National Museum of India will hold an exhibition on the Buddhist heritage of the SCO countries, and India will host a food festival reflecting the culinary traditions of the SCO region.
Way Forward
- Play a constructive role: India could play a role in de-radicalisation of youths in Central Asia. It should also leverage its soft power to enhance its spheres of engagements in the field of culture, cuisine, education, etc. This will ensure India does not get isolated in the organization.
- Use historic relations: India-Russia diplomatic relations and India’s cultural and historical connect with the CAR could be leveraged for promoting India’s interests in the SCO.
- Revitalise connectivity projects: The opening of Chabahar port and entry into Ashgabat agreement should be utilized for a stronger presence in Eurasia.
- Focus on operationalizing International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) is needed: This will pave the way for enlarging economic clout in Central Asia, which in turn makes India indispensable in the region.
- Maintain an independent voice against China’s dominance: On BRI, India has articulated its view that connectivity projects must respect sovereignty and territorial integrity.
- Constructively engage Pakistan: Recently, Russia, at the request of India, has decided not to enter into an arms relationship with Pakistan. India should mobilize opinion in the SCO to ensure its connectivity projects to extended neighbours are unblocked by Pakistan.
The SCO must be used as a platform to deepen solidarity and mutual trust and resolve disputes and differences through dialogue and consultations. It will help in de-escalating tensions between India and its neighbouring countries, China and Pakistan.