Islamabad Summit 2024: SCO’s Role in Promoting Regional Peace and Security

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The Shanghai Cooperation Organization was formed by China and Russia in 2001. It was formed to help the countries in Asia and Europe, to make them work together on politics, trade, security, and defence. This organization is the biggest regional group in the world, covering approximately 80% of the area of Eurasia and 40% of the world’s population.

The SCO has nine member countries, including China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, India, Pakistan, and Iran, from which India, Pakistan, and Iran joined the organization later. The organization also includes some observer states that are Mongolia, Belarus, and Afghanistan and some Dialogue partner states that are Sri Lanka, Turkey, Cambodia, Azerbaijan, Nepal, Armenia, Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Myanmar, and the United Arab Emirates.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the United Nations

The SCO works with the United Nations on several issues, such as political and security issues. Since 2005, SCO has been an observer in the United Nations. In 2010, the UN and SCO administrations agreed on a Joint Declaration on Cooperation that involves the sharing of information and intensifying each other’s potential. The SCO also works with various UN organizations like ESCAP, UNODC, UNESCO, FAO, WTO, OCHA, and UNOCT to focus on economic, social, drug problems, and crimes; support education; agriculture; international trade; humanitarian aid; and fighting terrorism.

Pakistan’s membership in SCO

Before 2017, Pakistan was an observer state in the SCO, but it became a member of the SCO in 2017. Before the membership, Pakistan was also sharing geographical and cultural ties with the member states.

Pakistan is working actively in SCO as it is interested in regional peace, stability, and economic growth. The organization allows Pakistan to make good relations with other states for the interests of trade, investment, energy, and transportation. The major goal of Pakistan is to end terrorism and crimes by working with the SCO.

Pakistan in SCO Forums

• In 2019, Imran Khan, as PM of Pakistan, gave a proposal to make a special group to work on the elimination of poverty, and the idea was approved in 2022.

• In 2021, Pakistan had held an anti-terrorism activity with China.

• In 2022, Pakistan invited the SCO minister of justice and had a meeting with him, which was led by Pakistan’s Minister of Law and Justice.

• In 2023, Pakistan became the Chair of the SCO Council of Heads of Government and held a meeting on transport connectivity and digital technologies to help reduce poverty.

The SCO 2024 in Pakistan

The upcoming SCO Summit is going to be held on the 15th and 16th of October 2024, in Islamabad. Representatives from the member states are going to join the conference. The 2024 Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization will be attended by the following prime ministers: Li Qiang of China; Mikhail Mishustin of Russia; Roman Golovchenko of Belarus; Akylbek Zhaparov of Kyrgyzstan; Kokhir Rasulzoda of Tajikistan; Abdulla Nigmatovich Aripov of Uzbekistan; the five vice presidents of Iran; and the External Minister of India. India will be represented by its External Affairs minister, S. Jaishankar, who will be discussing India’s “Make in India” initiative.

The reason that makes Pakistan important to the world is its location. By joining SCO, Pakistan got a chance to make its relations good with China, Russia, and other member states. This conference can change the world’s perspective on Pakistan and can tell them that Pakistan wants peace in the region.

In February 2024, “Shanghai Cooperation Organization: Pakistan’s policy, priorities, and opportunities” was the topic of discussion at the roundtable held by the Institute of Strategic Studies (ISS) China-Pakistan Study Center. According to a statement released here, the roundtable gave insightful information about Pakistan’s plans for regional cooperation and economic integration. According to Mr Mahmood, Pakistan has always viewed the SCO as a significant forum. The nation will soon have leadership roles in several councils and the top decision-making body, the Council of Chiefs of State, which presented significant prospects for furthering the SCO’s goals of regional peace and stability. In 2024 and beyond, Pakistan will need to exercise both creativity and initiative as it leads a number of SCO summits and summit processes.

Additionally, he outlined the potential obstacles facing the organization, including the diversity of its member states, the impact of rivalry between major powers, and the evolving nature of security threats in the area. He urged the member nations to carefully address these issues through close consultation.

Speaking on Pakistan’s strategic goals within the organization was Ambassador Babar Amin. In addition to highlighting Pakistan’s initiatives to fortify ties with Russia via the SCO platform. He emphasized the significance of infrastructure development and connectivity, particularly in dealing with energy challenges.

According to him, Pakistan could work with the SCO to foster connectivity, commerce, and regional economic cooperation as a natural partner. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was a perfect fit with the SCO’s objectives of fostering commerce and regional connectivity. Pakistan’s vast experience in counterterrorism and its participation in the regional anti-terrorism structure (RATS) mechanism of the SCO make it a valuable partner for member nations in the area of security cooperation.

Establishing itself as a trustworthy partner inside the SCO, according to Ambassador Babar Amin, is one of Pakistan’s top strategic aims. This is especially important in light of India’s alleged alignment with Western desires and its selective engagement. He said that Pakistan aimed to promote cooperation on defence and security issues by strengthening non-traditional security cooperation through the SCO’s RATS framework.

The columnist Durdana Najam writes in The Express Tribune

Pakistan is set to host a significant event in the international diplomatic arena: the heads of government meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) on October 15-16. The gathering will not only serve as a platform for discussions on regional issues but will also provide Pakistan with an opportunity to redefine its position in the complex geopolitical landscape.

She further writes in her article that SCO is not only concerned about trading and money, but it also works for the stability and safety of the member states. Its members represent 40% of the world’s people and 30% of its economy. She says that in the upcoming conference, the states are going to decide what steps they can take to end terrorism and to bring peace and stability.

Will the Indian Minister talk about the Kashmir issue?

The Foreign Minister of India, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, said that during his visit to Pakistan, he is not going to discuss the Kashmir issue. At the two-day summit, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar told reporters on Saturday that he anticipates “a lot of media interest” in discussing the two countries’ relations. He did not mention that he would meet the country leaders on the sidelines.

The All-Party Hurriyat Conference

The All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) leader, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, stated on Saturday that Pakistan and India have “a real opportunity” to “break the ice and engage constructively” during the SCO summit.

Moreover, according to a spokesperson for the Indian Foreign Ministry on Friday, the Foreign Office (FO) had earlier stated that Prime Minister Modi has been invited to the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting, which Pakistan is holding on October 15–16 under its rotational chairmanship.

References

• Wikipedia contributors. (2024, October 8). Shanghai Cooperation Organisation – Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shanghai_Cooperation_Organisation

• Teekah, E. (2024, October 11). Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) | Definition, Members, History, Map, & Facts. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Shanghai-Cooperation-Organization

• Shanghai Cooperation Organization. (n.d.). Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs. https://dppa.un.org/en/shanghai-cooperation-organization#:~:text=The%20Shanghai%20Cooperation%20Organization%20(SCO,affairs%20and%20peace%20and%20security.

• SCO. (n.d.). https://mofa.gov.pk/sco#:~:text=Pakistan%20became%20a%20member%20of,ties%20with%20SCO%20Member%20States.

• Najam, D. (2024, October 10). SCO Summit  Pakistan s leadership opportunity. The Express Tribune. https://tribune.com.pk/story/2501781/sco-summit-pakistans-leadership-opportunity

• Janjua, M. N. (2024, October 6). SCO Summit in Islamabad: A Defining Moment for Pakistan in the Global South. Modern Diplomacy. https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2024/10/07/sco-summit-in-islamabad-a-defining-moment-for-pakistan-in-the-global-south/

• Barua, K. (2024, October 8). SCO Summit 2024 in Pakistan: October Dates, Schedule, Members and Agenda. Jagranjosh.com. https://www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/sco-summit-2024-in-pakistan-check-october-dates-schedule-members-and-key-agenda-1728367965-1

• DAWN.COM. (2024, October 4). Indian FM Jaishankar to visit Pakistan on Oct 15 for SCO summit. DAWN.COM. https://www.dawn.com/news/1863012

• Jazeera, A. (2024, October 5). Indian FM rules out bilateral talks during SCO Summit in Pakistan. Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/10/5/indian-fm-rules-out-bilateral-talks-during-sco-summit-in-pakistan

• Shanghai Cooperation Organisation: Pakistan all set to host SCO Summit 2024. (2024a, October 12). ANI News. https://www.aninews.in/news/world/asia/shanghai-cooperation-organisation-pakistan-all-set-to-host-sco-summit-202420241012220949/
• DAWN.COM. (2024a, February 25). Pakistan’s role in SCO entails important opportunities: experts. DAWN.COM. https://www.dawn.com/news/1816871