SCO

 INTRODUCTION :
o SCO is best described by Chinese scholars as ‘a cart with two wheels’, referring to the equal degree of
importance attached to security and economic cooperation.
o The two main founding members, China and Russia are economic strength of the organization.
o POTENTIALS OF SCO
 SCO will have four nuclear weapons states (Russia, China, Pakistan and India)
 three of the world’s major emerging economies in its folds.
 Both SCO heavyweights – China and Russia and the leading actors of South Asia – India and
Pakistan through the SCO platform can discuss the pressing issues of stabilizing Afghanistan
and terrorism
o PAKISTAN
 Pakistan can seek assistance from the expertise of the RATS, run by SCO.
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o RUSSIA :
 Russia views Central Asia squarely within its sphere of influence and tilts more towards
security aspects of the SCO,
o CHINA :
 while the Chinese desire economic inroads and the influence that it brings.
o SCOPE :
 Acceptance of Pakistan and India as full members has expanded its zone of influence south
towards warm waters of Indian Ocean
o COVERGENT POINT: Between pak and india
o
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 CHINESE INTERESTS
o China advocates that SCO member states must have their own financial bank, to speed up infrastructure
development projects.
o The “SCO Development Strategy 2025” approved in the summit called for cooperation in trade,
ensuring regional stability and prompt
o A joint statement for continued cultural cooperation was signed in Beijing in April 2002.
 ARMS REDUCTION
o In June 2012, the SCO members pointed out that “the strengthening of missile defence by a country or
a group of countries will cause harm to international security and global strategic stability.”
 ANTI-TERRORISM
o At the 15th SCO Summit, “Ufa Declaration – July 2015” called for an anti-terrorism plan, to limit Daish
in Afghanistan and the region at large
o .The summit noted that drug money was a major source of funding for terrorist groups
 ANTI – WESTERN INFLUENCE
o SCO has concerns regarding the presence of extra-regional forces in the region. In the aftermath of
9/11, US/coalition troops were deployed in Afghanistan.
o US had acquired air bases from Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. In 2005, SCO issued a joint communiqué
(Astana Declaration) in which both the Central Asian states were compelled to get the bases vacated.
o The US request for observer status was refused because of its being an extra-regional power.
 REGIONAL CONNECTIVITY
o The expansion of SCO, in particular the inclusion of India and Pakistan is likely to strength regional
connectivity. As stated by former President Musharraf “Pakistan provides the natural link between the
SCO states to connect the Eurasian heartland with the Arabian Sea and South Asia.”
 AFGHAN PEACE
 Establishment of SCO-Afghan Contact Group. SCO supports a peaceful/stable Afghanistan through cooperative
counter-terrorism efforts and combating narcotics trade
o In November 2005 the SCOAfghanistan Contact Group was established in Beijing.SCO has hosted
conferences on Afghanistan
 The first conference on Afghanistan was held in 2009, in which EU and NATO were also invited.In
Ufa Summit, the agenda item on regional security included Afghanistan
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