Foreign Policy Watch: India-SCO
India, Pakistan avoid blaming each other at SCO meeting
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Mains level: Importance of SCO for India;
Why in the News?
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar informally interacted with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar during the SCO summit’s concluding lunch in Islamabad.
About SCO:
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What were the major insights during SCO 2024 summit?
- Diplomatic Engagement: The informal interaction between India’s External Affairs Minister and Pakistan’s leadership marked a notable shift in diplomatic engagement, highlighting a more constructive tone compared to previous meetings.
- Avoidance of Contentious Issues: Both India and Pakistan’s leaders refrained from discussing sensitive topics such as Kashmir, indicating a focus on cooperation rather than conflict during this summit.
- Collective Responsibility: The Indian foreign minister emphasized the need for an “honest conversation” about trust and cooperation in the SCO region, highlighting the importance of addressing concerns over terrorism and separatism in fostering trade and connectivity.
- Positive Outcomes: The summit resulted in the signing of eight documents, including proposals for economic dialogue, cooperation in the creative economy, and strategies for addressing challenges in areas like green development and digital economy.
- Future Cooperation: The joint statement from the summit emphasized optimizing the region’s potential in various sectors such as trade, innovation, and climate change, indicating a commitment to collaborative economic growth.
Challenges for India:
- India-Pakistan Relations: Pakistan’s membership complicates India’s position within the SCO. The rivalry between India and Pakistan can hinder India’s ability to assert its interests effectively, especially since China and Russia are influential players in the organization.
- Balancing Relations: India’s participation in the SCO necessitates a delicate balancing act between its traditional ties with Russia and its growing partnerships with Western nations. This is particularly challenging given the SCO’s often anti-Western posture.
Way forward:
- Strengthen Regional Cooperation: India should prioritize common interests within the SCO, such as counter-terrorism, economic development, and connectivity, while using diplomatic channels to reduce tensions with Pakistan and maintain constructive dialogue.
- Strategic Balancing: India can pursue a balanced approach by aligning its SCO engagements with its broader foreign policy goals, leveraging partnerships with Russia and Central Asia while carefully managing its ties with Western nations.
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Foreign Policy Watch: India-SCO
EAM Jaishankar attends SCO Summit
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: SCO and its expansion
Why in the News?
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar addressed the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Kazakhstan’s capital Astana on behalf of Prime Minister Modi.
About Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)
| Details | |
| Introduction |
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| Origins |
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| Expansion |
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| Governance |
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| Key Structures |
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| Secretariat |
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| RATS Executive Committee |
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| Official Languages | Chinese and Russian are the SCO’s official languages. |
| Key Agreements |
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| Major Activities |
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| International Relations | Established partnerships with various global bodies including the UN, ASEAN, CIS, CSTO, ECO, and CICA, reflecting its broad engagement in regional and international affairs. |
Strategic Significance of SCO for India
- Open-door for bilateral: Membership facilitates India’s engagement with Central Asian nations and major regional powers like China and Russia on shared security challenges.
- China-Russia Dynamics: SCO serves as a platform for China and Russia to assert influence and counter Western dominance in international forums.
- Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Dispute: India’s stance against endorsing BRI projects through SCO reflects its concerns over sovereignty, particularly regarding CPEC passing through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
About Kazakhstan
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PYQ:[2022] Consider the following:
India is a member of which of the above? (a) 1 and 2 only [2021] Critically examine the aims and objectives of SCO. What importance does it hold for India? |
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Foreign Policy Watch: India-SCO
PM Modi to host SCO 2023 Summit
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: SCO
Mains level: Read the attached story
Central Idea
- The upcoming virtual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, holds significant importance in the current geopolitical context.
- Ashok Sajjanhar, a former Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer and ambassador to several countries, shares his insights on the event and its potential outcomes.
What is SCO?
- SCO is an international organization founded in 2001.
- It is primarily focused on promoting cooperation and regional stability among its member states.
- The SCO originated from the Shanghai Five mechanism, which was established in 1996 to resolve border disputes and promote mutual trust among China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.
- Uzbekistan joined the organization in 2001, leading to its formation as the SCO.
| Member States | China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India, Pakistan |
| Objectives | Promote regional security, stability, economic cooperation |
| Cooperation Areas | Political, security, economic, cultural |
| Security Cooperation | Joint military exercises, counter-terrorism operations, intelligence sharing |
| Economic Cooperation | Trade facilitation, investment, infrastructure development |
| Key Bodies | SCO Summit, SCO Business Council, Interbank Consortium of the SCO |
| Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) | Coordination of anti-terrorism efforts |
| Dialogue Partners | Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran, Mongolia, among others |
| Observer States | Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Nepal, among others |
| Outreach and Engagement | United Nations, ASEAN, CIS, and other regional/international organizations |
Significance of the Meeting during the Russia-Ukraine War
- Major participants: The summit is expected to see the participation of key leaders such as Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif.
- Declining Influence of Russia: The meeting provides an opportunity for President Putin to gauge the declining influence and relevance of Russia, particularly in the Central Asian countries.
- Message for Resolution: The decreased importance of Russia’s role in the region may convey the need for a prompt resolution to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
India’s Strategic Autonomy and Self-Assuredness
- Successful India-US Relations: Prime Minister Modi’s recent successful visit to the United States highlights the growth of India-US relations.
- India’s Role in SCO: India’s participation in the SCO while maintaining strong relations with the United States underscores its strategic autonomy and self-assuredness.
Impact of PM Modi’s Statement to Mr. Putin
- Asserting India’s Voice: PM Modi’s statement, “this is not the era of war,” showcased India’s capacity to communicate with President Putin.
- Influencing Diplomatic Outcomes: The statement helped in securing the Bali G20 summit declaration and demonstrated India’s voice as a mediator between Russia and the West.
Implications for India-China Relations
- Unlikely Impact on Border Standoff: The virtual summit is unlikely to have any immediate impact on the India-China border standoff.
- Ongoing Talks and Stalemate: Multiple rounds of talks between India and China have taken place, but there has been limited progress in de-escalation and disengagement at key points.
- Snub to Pakistan: India’s strong stance on cross-border terrorism, as demonstrated in the past, is likely to be reiterated during the discussions.
India’s Opportunities at SCO
- Central Asian outreach: India has historical and cultural ties with Central Asian countries and aims to expand partnerships in the region.
- Neglected Engagement: Post-Soviet independence, India’s engagement with these countries was hindered by its lack of direct access through Pakistan’s territory.
- SCO as a Platform: India’s SCO membership allows for interaction at various levels and offers opportunities to strengthen ties with Central Asian countries.
Conclusion
- The SCO virtual summit presents a significant opportunity for India to engage with key regional players and enhance its profile and stature in Central Asia.
- The summit’s outcomes, including the adoption of documents on various issues, will contribute to advancing India’s interests, strengthening trade ties, and promoting investments in the region.
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Foreign Policy Watch: India-SCO
PM Modi to host SCO 2023 summit today: What’s on the table?
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: SCO
Mains level: Significance of SCO, challenges within and way forward
Central idea
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s virtual summit with the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) holds immense significance. With the participation of key leaders such as Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the meeting is poised to address crucial regional issues.
Relevance of the topic
- India’s strained relations with neighbouring countries and the ongoing war in Europe.
- Negotiations and meetings of SCO hold significance for India specifically related to the India-china relations and border standoff
Significance of the Meeting for India
- Regional Engagement: As the host of the SCO meeting, India has the opportunity to actively engage with key regional players, including Russia, China, and Central Asian countries. This engagement allows India to strengthen its relations with neighboring nations and enhance regional cooperation on various fronts.
- Showcase of Strategic Autonomy: India’s successful visit to the United States prior to the SCO summit highlights its ability to maintain positive relations with global powers while actively participating in regional groupings like the SCO. This demonstrates India’s strategic autonomy and self-assuredness, reinforcing its position as a reliable and influential player in global affairs.
- Voice of Reason: PM Modi’s previous statement to President Putin, emphasizing that this is not the era of war, showcased India’s capacity to express its views to influential leaders. It highlighted India’s commitment to peaceful resolution and diplomacy, enhancing its international standing.
- Strengthening Central Asian Ties: India’s participation in the SCO provides a valuable platform to strengthen and expand its relations with Central Asian countries. By actively engaging with them through the SCO, India can foster stronger bilateral ties and explore opportunities for trade, investment, and cooperation in various sectors.
- Countering Cross-Border Terrorism: The SCO’s focus on combating terrorism and cross-border issues aligns with India’s priorities. Through participation in SCO initiatives and discussions, India can emphasize the importance of concerted efforts to address terrorism and promote regional stability.
Changing Dynamics in Central Asia
- Decline of Russian Influence: Central Asia, which was traditionally considered Russia’s backyard, has seen a decline in Russia’s influence in recent years. This decline is partly due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and Russia’s annexation of Ukrainian territories. Central Asian countries, such as Kazakhstan, have openly expressed their non-support for Russia’s actions, signaling a shift in their perspective.
- Growing Chinese Presence: China has been expanding its presence in Central Asia through initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Chinese investments in infrastructure projects, such as building pipelines, transmission lines, and other connectivity projects, have increased.
- Common People’s Concerns: The common people in Central Asian countries have concerns about potential economic exploitation and loss of national assets. There have been demonstrations against China’s increasing influence, highlighting the need for careful consideration of the long-term implications of Chinese involvement.
- Search for Diverse Partnerships: Central Asian countries are looking beyond Russia and China for partnerships. They aim to avoid becoming excessively dependent on a single power and seek relationships with multiple countries. India, Turkey, Iran, the United States, and Europe are among the nations interested in engaging with Central Asian countries and offering alternative opportunities for economic cooperation, security, and development.
- Strengthening Relations with India: India has historical, cultural, and civilizational links with Central Asia. Prime Minister Modi’s visits to all five Central Asian countries in 2015 demonstrated India’s commitment to deepening ties.
- Multi-Actor Engagement: Besides India, other countries such as Turkey, Iran, the United States, and Europe are also recognizing the opportunities in Central Asia. They are actively seeking to enhance their relations with the region, understanding the need for a multi-actor approach to regional engagement.
India’s progress and expectations
- Strengthening regional relations: India’s active participation in the SCO has strengthened ties with Central Asian countries and expanded cooperation in various sectors.
- Counterterrorism and security cooperation: India’s engagement in the SCO highlights its commitment to combating terrorism and promoting regional security.
- Economic cooperation and trade opportunities: India seeks to enhance economic ties with Central Asian nations through trade and investment improvements.
- Regional connectivity and infrastructure development: India advocates for improved regional connectivity, including projects like the International North-South Transport Corridor and the Chabahar Port, to facilitate trade and economic cooperation.
- Cultural and people-to-people exchanges: India focuses on fostering cultural and educational exchanges to deepen mutual understanding and strengthen ties between India and Central Asia.
- Expanding influence: Active participation in the SCO allows India to expand its influence in the region and project itself as a reliable and responsible partner in international affairs.
Challenges within the SCO framework
- Divergent Interests: The SCO consists of member states with diverse geopolitical interests, historical disputes, and economic priorities. These divergences can sometimes make it difficult to achieve consensus and coordinated action on important issues.
- Bilateral Disputes: Some SCO member states have ongoing bilateral disputes, such as the border disputes between India and China, and Pakistan and India. These disputes can create tensions within the organization and hinder collective decision-making.
- Power Dynamics: The SCO includes major powers like China and Russia, which may wield more influence and have their own priorities within the organization. Balancing power dynamics and ensuring equitable representation among member states can be a challenge.
- Security Concerns: The SCO’s primary focus is on regional security, counterterrorism, and combating extremism. However, member states may have varying security concerns, differing threat perceptions, and divergent approaches to addressing security challenges.
- Economic Disparities: The SCO encompasses countries with varying levels of economic development and differing priorities for economic cooperation. Achieving comprehensive economic integration among member states can be challenging due to disparities in economic systems, infrastructure connectivity, and trade barriers.
Way forward
- Strengthening Trust and Confidence: Member states should work towards building trust and confidence among themselves through increased dialogue, transparency, and shared understanding of each other’s perspectives and concerns. Regular high-level exchanges, bilateral meetings, and people-to-people interactions can contribute to enhancing trust and cooperation.
- Consensus-Building and Decision-Making: The SCO should prioritize consensus-building among member states on key issues. Ensuring that decision-making processes are inclusive, transparent, and representative will help in addressing divergent interests and maintaining unity within the organization.
- Resolving Bilateral Disputes: Member states should make efforts to resolve their bilateral disputes through peaceful means and dialogue. Encouraging direct negotiations, promoting confidence-building measures, and seeking third-party mediation when necessary can contribute to reducing tensions and enhancing cooperation within the SCO.
- Enhanced Economic Cooperation: The SCO should focus on deepening economic cooperation among member states. This can be achieved through the promotion of trade, investment, infrastructure connectivity, and technology sharing.
- Regional Security Cooperation: Member states should collaborate closely to address common security challenges, including terrorism, extremism, and drug trafficking. Strengthening intelligence sharing, joint exercises, and capacity-building initiatives can enhance the effectiveness of the SCO in maintaining regional security and stability.
- Engaging with External Partners: The SCO should engage with external partners, including observer states and dialogue partners, to explore areas of mutual interest and cooperation. This can help leverage external expertise, resources, and networks to support the organization’s objectives while ensuring that the SCO remains independent and maintains its autonomy.
Conclusion
- While the SCO meeting may not directly resolve border standoffs or ongoing wars, it serves as a platform to strengthen regional relations, address cross-border terrorism, and explore avenues for cooperation. By actively engaging with Central Asian countries and leveraging its strengths, India can enhance its influence and contribute to the region’s progress
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Foreign Policy Watch: India-SCO
Iran Joins Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: SCO
Mains level: Not Much
Central Idea
- Prime Minister Modi welcomed Iran as the newest member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) during the virtual summit of the grouping.
- Iran’s membership has been discussed for years, and recent geopolitical shifts have made it more relevant.
About SCO
- The SCO, formed in 2001, aims to enhance regional cooperation in combating terrorism, separatism, and extremism in Central Asia.
Expansion of the SCO
- Previous membership: The SCO consisted of eight member countries, including China, Russia, India, Pakistan, and the Central Asian nations of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
- Observer and Dialogue Partner status: Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran, and Mongolia have Observer status, while Azerbaijan, Armenia, Cambodia, Nepal, Turkey, and Sri Lanka hold Dialogue Partner status.
Importance of Iran’s Membership
- Nuclear deal context: After signing the nuclear deal (JCPOA) in 2015, Iran’s path to SCO membership was facilitated.
- Changing geopolitical landscape: The US withdrawal from Afghanistan has created opportunities for increased Chinese influence in the region.
- Expanding alliances: Iran has sought to establish closer ties beyond its traditional ally Russia, including reaching out to Saudi Arabia and opening a border market with Pakistan.
Geopolitical Implications
- China’s interests: Iran’s energy resources and cooperation in areas like oil are beneficial to China as it seeks to counter the US.
- Russia’s alliances: Russia aims to strengthen its position by building alliances within the SCO, including potential full membership for Belarus.
- US-India relations: India’s growing partnership with the US and their shared democratic values contrast with Chinese authoritarianism, creating a delicate balancing act for India.
India’s Balancing Act
- Maintaining partnerships: India has strengthened ties with the US through significant technology and defence agreements, emphasizing shared democratic values.
- Historical ties with Iran: India has had traditional commercial ties with Iran, primarily in the import of crude oil.
- Challenges in balancing: India’s shifting alliances with the US and historical ties with Iran pose challenges as the dynamics of the SCO evolve.
Conclusion
- Iran’s membership in the SCO signifies the changing geopolitical landscape and the increasing influence of China and Russia in the region.
- India faces the challenge of balancing its partnerships with the US and historical ties with Iran while navigating the evolving dynamics within the SCO.
Also read
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Foreign Policy Watch: India-SCO
PM Modi pitches for ‘Full Transit Right’ among SCO members
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC)
Mains level: Read the attached story
With Pakistan PM listening, Prime Minister Modi urged Shanghai Cooperation Organisation member states to “give each other full right to transit”.
Why in news?
- PM Modi framed the right to transit in the context of connectivity and how it could help establish reliable and resilient supply chains in the region.
Why did PM pitch this?
- Lack of transit across Pakistan’s territory has been a challenge for India to access Central Asian markets.
- Iran’s President also said that despite the impressive potential, infrastructural connections in the field of transit between members of the SCO are not so extensive.
- Iran already provides special priority to the development of the North-South Corridor and has made huge investments.
What is International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC)?
- The INSTC is a 7,200 km-long multimodal transportation network encompassing sea, road, and rail routes to offer the shortest route of connectivity.
- It was established on 12th September 2000 in St. Petersburg, by Iran, Russia and India for the purpose of promoting transportation cooperation among the Member States.
- It links the Indian Ocean to the Caspian Sea via the Persian Gulf onwards into Russia and Northern Europe.
- It will move freight between India, Iran, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Central Asia and Europe.
Significance of INSTC
- Trade facilitation: INSTC is aimed at reducing the carriage cost between India and Russia by about 30 percent and bringing down the transit time by more than half.
- New corridor in making: It has the potential to transform the economies of countries along the corridor into specialized manufacturing, logistics, and transit hubs by facilitating access to newer markets.
- Multimodal transit: The recent Suez Canal blockade, which cost the global economy hefty damage amounting to US$9 billion, has amplified the optimistic outlook towards the INSTC as a cheaper and faster alternative multimodal transit corridor.
Benefits offered to India
- Export promotion: The INSTC connects India with Central Asia, and Russia, and has the potential to expand up to the Baltic, Nordic, and Arctic regions, increasing the scope of trade multifold.
- Ease of trade: For India, it provides a shorter trade route with Iran, Russia, and beyond to Europe, creating scope for increased economic engagement.
- Alternative Route to Central Asia: It opens up a permanent alternative route for India to trade with Afghanistan and Central Asia, given the hurdles in the direct route through Pakistan.
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Foreign Policy Watch: India-SCO
Iran, Belarus to be newest SCO Members
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: SCO
Mains level: Read the attached story
Iran and Belarus are likely to be the two newest additions to the China and Russia-backed Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) grouping.
What is SCO?
- After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the then security and economic architecture in the Eurasian region dissolved and new structures had to come up.
- The original Shanghai Five were China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan.
- The SCO was formed in 2001, with Uzbekistan included. It expanded in 2017 to include India and Pakistan.
- Since its formation, the SCO has focused on regional non-traditional security, with counter-terrorism as a priority.
- The fight against the “three evils” of terrorism, separatism and extremism has become its mantra. Today, areas of cooperation include themes such as economics and culture.
India’s entry to the SCO
- India and Pakistan both were observer countries.
- While Central Asian countries and China were not in favor of expansion initially, the main supporter — of India’s entry in particular — was Russia.
- A widely held view is that Russia’s growing unease about an increasingly powerful China prompted it to push for its expansion.
- From 2009 onwards, Russia officially supported India’s ambition to join the SCO in 2017.
- China then asked for its all-weather friend Pakistan’s entry.
Why expand now?
- China and Russia are looking to frame the grouping as a counter to the West — particularly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
- China wishes to draw a sharp contrast between the SCO and NATO.
Changing narrative of SCO
- There has been discussion in the international arena that the trend of non-alignment is back.
- NATO is based on Cold War thinking.
- The logic of NATO is creating new enemies to sustain its own existence.
- However, SCO is a cooperative organisation based on non-alignment and not targeting a third party.
India and SCO: Present status
- India will host the SCO summit next year, and Varanasi has been selected as the SCO region’s first “Tourism and Cultural Capital”.
- India will also be chairing the summit.
Try this PYQ now:
In the context of the affairs of which of the following is the phrase “Special Safeguard Mechanisms” mentioned in the news frequently?
(a) United Nations Environment Programme
(b) World Trade Organization
(c) ASEAN- India Free Trade Agreement
(d) G-20 Summits
Post your answers here.
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Foreign Policy Watch: India-SCO
India- Central Asia Relations
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Not much
Mains level: Paper 2- India's engagement with Central Asia
Context
The inaugural India-Central Asia Summit, the India-Central Asia Dialogue, and the Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan in New Delhi — all held over the past four months — collectively indicate a renewed enthusiasm in New Delhi to engage the Central Asian region.
Significance of Central Asia for India
- India has limited economic and other stakes in the region, primarily due to lack of physical access.
- And yet, the region appears to have gained a great deal of significance in India’s strategic thinking over the years, particularly in the recent past.
- New geopolitical realities: India’s mission Central Asia today reflects, and is responsive to, the new geopolitical, if not the geo-economic, realities in the region.
Factors driving India’s engagement
- One of the factors driving this engagement and shaping it is the great power dynamics there.
- Withdrawal of the US from Afghanistan: The decline of American presence and power in the broader region (due primarily to the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan) has led to a reassertion by China and Russia seeking to fill the power vacuum.
- India-Russia relations: Moscow considers India to be a useful partner in the region: it helps it to not only win back New Delhi, which is moving towards the U.S., but also to subtly checkmate the rising Chinese influence in its backyard.
- For the U.S., while growing India-Russia relations is not a welcome development, it recognises the utility of Moscow-New Delhi relations in Central Asia to offset Beijing’s ever-growing influence there.
- India’s dilemma: In the wake of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, New Delhi faces a major dilemma in the wider region, not just in the pre-existing theatres like the Line of Control and the Line of Actual Control.
- India’s China challenge: India in the region might get further hemmed in due to the combined efforts by China, Pakistan and Taliban-led Afghanistan.
- If so, it must ensure that there is no China-led strategic gang up with Pakistan and the Taliban against India in the region, which, if it becomes a reality, would severely damage Indian interests.
- Consolidation of Afghan policy: India’s engagement of Central Asia would also help it to consolidate its post-American Afghan policy.
- Now that the Taliban have returned to Kabul, New Delhi is forced to devise new ways of engaging Afghanistan.
- That’s where the Central Asian Republics (CARs) and Russia could be helpful.
- The announcement of a Joint Working Group on Afghanistan during the summit between India and the CARs is surely indicative of such interest.
Russia’s prominence
- In India’s current vision for a regional security architecture, Russia appears prominent
- Countering China: By courting Russia — its traditional partner, also close to China and getting closer to Pakistan — to help it re-establish its presence in the Central Asian region, India is seeking to work with one of the region’s strongest powers and also potentially create a rift between China and Russia.
- Joint defence production by India and Russia has been on the rise and the CARs could play a key role in it.
- India’s non-critical stance on developments in Ukrain and Kazakhstan: This growing India-Russia partnership also explains India’s non-critical stance on the developments in Ukraine and Kazakhstan.
Challenges in India’s engagement with Central Asia
- China’s dominance in the region: China, which shares a land border with the region, is already a major investor there.
- Iran’s role: An even bigger challenge for India may be Iran.
- India’s best shot at reaching the CARs is by using a hybrid model – via sea to Chabahar and then by road/rail through Iran (and Afghanistan) to the CARs.
- So, for New Delhi, the ongoing re-negotiations on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action are of crucial importance.
- While Iran getting close to the West is not preferred by Russia (but preferred by India), if and when it becomes a reality, India would be able to use it to its advantage and join Russia in engaging the CARs.
- Delivering on the commitment: Most importantly, India will have to walk the talk on its commitments to Central Asia.
- Does it have the political will, material capability and diplomatic wherewithal to stay the course in the region?
Conclusion
India’s renewed engagement of Central Asia is in the right direction for the simple reason that while the gains from an engagement of Central Asia may be minimal, the disadvantages of non-engagement could be costly in the longer run.
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Foreign Policy Watch: India-SCO
[pib] Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO)
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: CTSO, NATO
Mains level: Not Much
The Prime Minister has participated virtually in the Joint SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization)-CSTO Outreach Session on Afghanistan.
What is CSTO?
- The CSTO is a Russia-led military alliance of seven former Soviet states that was created in 2002.
- Current CSTO members are Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Russian Federation and Tajikistan. Afghanistan and Serbia hold observer status in the CSTO.
- Its purpose is to ensure the collective defence of any member that faces external aggression.
- It has been described by political scientists as the Eurasian counterpart of NATO, which has 29 member states, while the CSTO has just six.
Outlined functions of CSTO
- CSTO supports arms sales and manufacturing as well as military training and exercises, making the CSTO the most important multilateral defence organization in the former Soviet Union.
- Beyond mutual defence, the CSTO also coordinates efforts in fighting the illegal circulation of weapons among member states and has developed law enforcement training for its members in pursuit of these aims.
What does CSTO membership provide?
- While CSTO membership means that member states are barred from joining other military alliances, limiting, for example, their relationship with NATO.
- Its members receive discounts, subsidies, and other incentives to buy Russian arms, facilitating military cooperation.
- Most importantly, membership presumes certain key security assurances – the most significant of which is deterring military aggression by third countries.
- In the CSTO, aggression against one signatory is perceived as aggression against all.
- It however remains unclear whether this feature works in practice.
Back2Basics: NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)
- NATO was found in the aftermath of the Second World War.
- Its purpose was to secure peace in Europe, to promote cooperation among its members and to guard their freedom – all of this in the context of countering the threat posed at the time by the Soviet Union.
- It is a military alliance established by the North Atlantic Treaty (also called the Washington Treaty) of April 4, 1949.
- It sought to create a counterweight to Soviet armies stationed in Central and Eastern Europe after World War II.
- Its original members were Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
- NATO has spread a web of partners, namely Egypt, Israel, Sweden, Austria, Switzerland and Finland.
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Foreign Policy Watch: India-SCO
Can the SCO be the regional body that stabilizes Afghanistan?
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: SCO
Mains level: Role of SCO in Afghan Peace
On the face of it, the summit meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) this week in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, is well placed to lead the stabilization of Afghanistan after the American retreat.
About SCO
- After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the then security and economic architecture in the Eurasian region dissolved and new structures had to come up.
- The original Shanghai Five were China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan.
- The SCO was formed in 2001, with Uzbekistan included. It expanded in 2017 to include India and Pakistan.
- Since its formation, the SCO has focused on regional non-traditional security, with counter-terrorism as a priority.
- The fight against the “three evils” of terrorism, separatism and extremism has become its mantra. Today, areas of cooperation include themes such as economics and culture.
India’s and the SCO
- India and Pakistan both were observer countries.
- While Central Asian countries and China were not in favor of expansion initially, the main supporter — of India’s entry in particular — was Russia.
- A widely held view is that Russia’s growing unease about an increasingly powerful China prompted it to push for its expansion.
- From 2009 onwards, Russia officially supported India’s ambition to join the SCO. China then asked for its all-weather friend Pakistan’s entry.
Afghanistan and SCO
- Afghanistan has been engaged with the SCO for over 15 years.
- In 2012, Afghanistan became an observer in the SCO when then-Afghan president Hamid Karzai visited China.
- In 2015, Kabul applied for full membership in the group.
- Kabul sought to be a member of the SCO as it believes that it is a natural candidate.
- Geographically, Afghanistan is a part of the SCO region.
Limited (or No) progress made by SCO
- For all the political hype, the SCO has not deepened regionalism in Central Asia.
- Two decades after its formation — it was set up just weeks before the 9/11 attacks on New York and Washington — the institutional promise of the SCO remains just that — a promise.
- Seen from the subcontinent, the SCO certainly looks better than the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC).
- That India and Pakistan, whose differences have prevented even regular meetings of SAARC, are actively participating in the SCO, would point to its attractiveness.
- But then SAARC is such a low bar.
Opportunities for role-play in Afghanistan
The crisis in Afghanistan presents a major opportunity for the SCO to realize its regional ambitions.
- Involvement of regional superpowers: The SCO’s importance for Afghanistan seems self-evident when you look at its sponsors and members. Its founding leaders are the two great powers of the east — Russia and China.
- Neighborhood are members: Its other initial members were Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan to the north and northeast of Afghanistan.
- Observers vested interest: Besides Afghanistan, Iran, Belarus and Mongolia are observers. Iran is said to be on track for full membership.
- Many dialogue partners: The SCO has a number of “dialogue partners”. They include Armenia and Azerbaijan from the neighboring Caucasus region and Turkey a step further to the West. Nepal and Sri Lanka from the subcontinent and Cambodia from southeast Asia are also dialogue partners.
Issues with SCO
- China centrism: For an organization that bears the name of Shanghai, but is focused on Central Asia, its associates look disparate.
- Lack of coherence: The Central Asian members of the SCO have quarrels of their own, and have struggled to develop collective approaches to their common regional security challenges.
- Dint go beyond dialogues: As it broadened its membership, the SCO has, unsurprisingly, struggled to deepen institutional cooperation.
- Not comprehensive: There is also one important country missing in the mix. It is Turkmenistan, which shares an 800 km border with Afghanistan and a 1,150 km border with Iran.
- Neutrality of members: The organizing principle of Turkmenistan rulers is absolute “neutrality” — think of it as an extreme form of “non-alignment”. It refuses to join any regional institution, political or military.
- Individual interests: Russia’s effort to build a regional institution in its Central Asian periphery ran parallel to its plans for the so-called “strategic triangle” with China and India. India and Pakistan, needless to say, are poles apart on the Taliban.
No common interest in Afghan Peace
- The US military retreat from Afghanistan has brought cheer to both Moscow and Beijing, although publicly they criticize President Joe Biden’s hasty retreat.
- The US retreat might weaken the glue that binds Moscow and Beijing in Central Asia or tightens it.
- Although Russia and China are closer to each other than ever before, their interests are not entirely the same in Central Asia.
Russian alternatives to SCO
(1) Central Security Treaty Organisation
- While military confidence-building measures have grown under the SCO banner, Russia had its own security organisation for the region, called the Central Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO).
- Three of the SCO members — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan — along with Armenia and Belarus are members of the CSTO.
- Russia sees itself as the sole protector of the former Soviet Republics and may not be ready to share that role with China — “yes” to coordination, but “no” to a Sino-Russian security dyarchy.
(2) Eurasian Economic Union
- Moscow also appears reluctant to back Chinese proposals to promote trade integration under the SCO banner; it prefers the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) under its own leadership.
- China is not a member of either CSTO or EAEU. This is one reason for the weakness of SCO regionalism.
Other deterrents
(1) Affinity with Taliban
- China has openly admitted to cooperating with the Taliban by restoring all formal diplomatic ties. It is the first such country to acknowledge the Taliban.
- Turkmenistan too, which is not part of SCO, has been quite open to engaging the Taliban in sync with its principles of neutrality.
- Some Russian analysts see Turkmenistan as the potential weak link in the defense against the Taliban’s potential threats to the region.
- Uzbekistan seems open to a cautious engagement with the Taliban.
(2) Iranian aspirations for unwarranted interference (just like Turkey does regarding Kashmir)
- Iran, which has ethnic and linguistic links with the Persian-speaking Tajiks, appears equally worried about the Taliban’s policies towards minorities.
- As Moscow and Beijing, Tehran was happy to see the Americans leave in humiliation and appeared hopeful of a positive engagement with the Taliban.
- Those hopes may have been suspended for now, if not discarded.
What can the SCO do now?
- The Afghanistan debacle presents an opportunity for the SCO to play a constructive role in meeting the region’s burgeoning security challenge.
- Providing humanitarian relief, tending to refugees, facilitating an inclusive dialogue and national reconciliation constitute immediate and long-term goals in which the organization can fill a role.
- The SCO can also pressure the Taliban to share power with other domestic actors and refrain from providing sanctuary to foreign terror organizations (through foreign funds from Saudi*).
- It can suspend Afghanistan’s observer status, curtail border traffic or withhold recognition, investments, and aid, should Kabul be found wanting.
Way forward
- While the SCO is not an impressive regional institution, it remains an important diplomatic forum.
- India has sought to make full use of the SCO’s diplomatic possibilities without any illusions about its effectiveness.
- At the SCO summit this week, PM Modi would remind other leaders of the “three evils” that the SCO set out to defeat — terrorism, extremism, and separatism.
- Few would disagree that the Taliban embodied all the three sins in the past. Today, the Taliban and its mentor Pakistan say the sinner wants to become a saint.
- India must focus on finding common ground with those members of the SCO who do share India’s concerns about Afghanistan.
Conclusion
- Given this divergence, it is unlikely that the SCO can come up with a “regional solution” for the Afghan crisis.
- The only real Afghan convergence today is between Pakistan and China.
- Expect them to try and nudge the SCO towards a positive engagement with the Taliban.
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Foreign Policy Watch: India-SCO
SCO Agreement on Mass Media Cooperation
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: SCO
Mains level: India-SCO cooperation
The Union Cabinet has accorded an ex post facto approval for signing and ratifying an agreement on cooperation in the field of mass media between all member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
Highlights of the Agreement
- The agreement, which was signed in June 2019, would provide an opportunity for the member states to share best practices and new innovations in the field of mass media.
- It aims to promote equal and mutually beneficial cooperation among associations in the field of mass media.
- The main areas of cooperation in the agreement are the creation of favorable conditions for the wide and mutual distribution of information through mass media in order to further deepen the knowledge about the lives of the peoples of their states.
- It will assist in broadcasting television and radio programmer and those, distributed legally within the territory of the state of the other side.
What is SCO?
- After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the then security and economic architecture in the Eurasian region dissolved and new structures had to come up.
- The original Shanghai Five were China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan.
- The SCO was formed in 2001, with Uzbekistan included. It expanded in 2017 to include India and Pakistan.
- Since its formation, the SCO has focused on regional non-traditional security, with counter-terrorism as a priority.
- The fight against the “three evils” of terrorism, separatism and extremism has become its mantra. Today, areas of cooperation include themes such as economics and culture.
Try this PYQ now:
Q. In the context of the affairs of which of the following is the phrase “Special Safeguard Mechanisms” mentioned in the news frequently?
(a) United Nations Environment Programme
(b) World Trade Organization
(c) ASEAN- India Free Trade Agreement
(d) G-20 Summits
India’s entry to the SCO
- India and Pakistan both were observer countries.
- While Central Asian countries and China were not in favor of expansion initially, the main supporter — of India’s entry in particular — was Russia.
- A widely held view is that Russia’s growing unease about an increasingly powerful China prompted it to push for its expansion.
- From 2009 onwards, Russia officially supported India’s ambition to join the SCO. China then asked for its all-weather friend Pakistan’s entry.
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Foreign Policy Watch: India-SCO
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: SCO
Mains level: SCO and India
In an indirect reference to the Chinese infrastructure projects in PoK, our PM has urged members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to respect “territorial integrity” and “sovereignty”.
What is SCO?
- After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the then security and economic architecture in the Eurasian region dissolved and new structures had to come up.
- The original Shanghai Five were China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan.
- The SCO was formed in 2001, with Uzbekistan included. It expanded in 2017 to include India and Pakistan.
- Since its formation, the SCO has focused on regional non-traditional security, with counter-terrorism as a priority.
- The fight against the “three evils” of terrorism, separatism and extremism has become its mantra. Today, areas of cooperation include themes such as economics and culture.
Try this PYQ now:
Q. In the context of the affairs of which of the following is the phrase “Special Safeguard Mechanisms” mentioned in the news frequently?
(a) United Nations Environment Programme
(b) World Trade Organization
(c) ASEAN- India Free Trade Agreement
(d) G-20 Summits
India’s entry to the SCO
- India and Pakistan both were observer countries.
- While Central Asian countries and China were not in favour of expansion initially, the main supporter — of India’s entry in particular — was Russia.
- A widely held view is that Russia’s growing unease about an increasingly powerful China prompted it to push for its expansion.
- From 2009 onwards, Russia officially supported India’s ambition to join the SCO. China then asked for its all-weather friend Pakistan’s entry.
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SCO & India
As of July 2015, India has been accorded full membership of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) along with Pakistan at its Ufa summit held in Russia.
- SCO is a Eurasian economic, political and military organisation
- HQ: Beijing, China
- Established: 2001 in Shanghai by the leaders 6 countries viz. China, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan
- Since 2005, India was having an Observer status of SCO and had applied for full membership in 2014. India would be finally ratified in the member list by 2016
Connecting the dots with SCO
Per Chinese and Russian scholars, creation of SCO helped address the security problems and enhance economic cooperation in the Central Asia region. The Western discourse, however, has tended to see the SCO as a mechanism to counter-balance the influence of the United States in the region. Both are correct!
SCO is considered and tagged as anti-west. Behind the veils, it is alleged that SCO is going to be a NATO like military alliance in East. You might expect a question on that line and be asked to put India’s context in place.
However, China exaggeratedly says that the SCO was founded on a principle of non-alignment and functions as an effective stabilizer for regional security and peace. China has always maintained that the focus of SCO is on combating the “three evil forces” – terrorism, separatism, and extremism – and other unconventional security menaces.
Advantage India?
There are multiple benefits for India as well as the SCO which is concerned with security and stability in the Eurasian space.
- India’s presence will help moderate the anti-West bias of the grouping, which will calm Washington’s nerves to a considerable extent
- Greater engagement with India will also aid the organisation’s capability to improve regional economic prosperity and security
- Membership will give India an opportunity to play an active role in China’s Silk Road initiative which plans to link a new set of routes from the north and east of the country to an old network of routes in the greater Eurasian region.
- Indian interest in International North-South Transport Corridor to connect Mumbai with Abbas port in Iran. This route is shorter than the existing Suez Canal and the Mediterranean Sea
- SCO may also serve as guarantor for projects such as the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) and Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) pipelines, which are held by India due to security concerns.
India’s entry is also likely to tip the balance of power in favor of peace and stability in Afghanistan.
Challenges ahead for SCO?
It is naive to expect that India’s differences with China regarding the border or its ties with Pakistan will magically disappear. The inclusion of Pakistan in the SCO will also make it difficult for India to enjoy a level playing field.
Pakistan, which is embroiled in a domestic political crisis, may not be so willing to challenge hardliners in its country, and go along with India in promoting peace and stability in the Eurasian space. We have seen how Indo-Pak presence in SAARC makes it difficult to ink key pacts.
The clash of interests in a post – 2014 Afghanistan makes prospects of cooperation difficult. There is also a possibility that China may collude with Pakistan to suffocate India’s voice in the decision making process.
Other than that, India will have to balance the geopolitical ambitions of China and Russia to evolve a mutually beneficial framework.
Further readings:
SCO becomes a reasonably hot topic post India’s accession to the member status. If you are comfortable with IR, try these articles –