Obstacles to Cooperation Within the SCO
Ishtiaq Ahmed
Bradford: The 23rd meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), held in Islamabad from October 15-16, 2024, brought together a diverse group of regional powers, including China, India, Iran, Pakistan, and Russia, at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions surrounding Ukraine and Palestine.
The participation of key countries like China, Iran, and Russia—nations with complex relations with the US due to these conflicts—underscores the significance of this summit. The SCO’s collective influence in areas like security, economic cooperation, and regional stability cannot be ignored, especially within the broader context of global geopolitics.
US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller’s response to the summit appeared carefully calculated. His comments about the importance of respecting international law and territorial integrity can be seen as subtle critiques of Russia and Iran, given the ongoing war in Ukraine and Iran’s involvement in the Palestinian conflict.
Read More:https://thepenpk.com/one-year-on-palestine-awaits-for-peace/
Miller’s reference to Pakistan’s concerns over nuclear theft in India highlights the unresolved and contentious issues between these South Asian neighbours, adding further complexity to regional dynamics.
While the SCO meeting resulted in a joint communique that focused on laudable goals—such as global peace, cooperation, and sustainable development—the omission of key flashpoints like Palestine, Kashmir, and Ukraine points to the careful balance SCO members are trying to maintain.
With countries like India and Russia around the table, it is clear that participants were cautious not to alienate one another or provoke external powers such as the United States. India’s participation, especially the presence of External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in Islamabad, was noteworthy as it marked his first visit to Pakistan since 2015.
However, the absence of bilateral engagements between India and Pakistan highlights the enduring hostilities, particularly regarding cross-border terrorism and Kashmir. Jaishankar’s pointed remarks during the summit, emphasizing that terrorism and separatism undermine regional cooperation, were clearly aimed at Pakistan, reaffirming India’s hard-line stance on relations with its neighbour.
Read More: https://thepenpk.com/sco-summit-a-defining-moment-for-pakistan/
While the SCO serves as a platform for regional cooperation, it also reflects the complexities and contradictions faced by its members. Although the organisation aims to promote unity and development, unresolved issues such as Kashmir, Palestine, and Ukraine remain significant obstacles to real progress.
Without addressing these deep-rooted conflicts, achieving genuine cooperation and stability in the region will be difficult. The SCO’s cautious approach indicates its desire to strengthen multilateral ties without exacerbating existing tensions, but it also reveals the inherent limitations of its agenda in the face of these unresolved disputes.
The author is a British citizen of Pakistani origin with a keen interest in Pakistani and international affairs.
The article is the writer’s opinion, it may or may not adhere to the organization’s editorial policy.
Brilliant effort to highlight the salient features of the recent assembly of SCO’s members in Islamabad the capital of Pakistan. Pakistan governments and its officials responsible for organising this event have been rightly given pat on their backs. In the light of Pakistan’s intractable political and economic problem, the Conference has also been a source of hypnotherapy for depressed nation like Pakistan.
Basically, SCO is an intergovernmental organisation the promotes economic, political and security cooperation in Eurasia. It is the largest regional organisation BT population and geographic scope. Although it was found in 2001, it has not been very active at all. It was joined by India and Pakistan in 2017 and by Iran in 2023.
China and Russia were the driving force behind its establishment who in addition to economic cooperation wanted to combat rising problems of extremism, terrorism and drug trafficking in the region. It’s broader political goal seems to develope it to replace UNO with a view to developing a multipolar world but this laudable objective may take longer than,China, Russians’ expectations.
Mohammed Ajeeb bhai, i love the term ‘ hypnotherapy’ . So apt.