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Shanghai Cooperation Organization's significance for Pakistan
18-06-2025 Pakistan Affairs current affairs pakistan's foreign policy
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is a Eurasian political, economic, and security alliance comprising nine permanent members, including China, Russia, and Pakistan. All members combined, the SCO makes up 44% of the entire world's population. Pakistan became a full member of SCO in 2017, marking a strategic shift in its foreign policy towards regional integration, multilateralism, and strategic autonomy. The SCO provides Pakistan with diplomatic space, economic partnerships, and opportunities to address security concerns.
Historical and Geopolitical Context
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization first originated as the Shanghai Five in 1996 and later expanded into SCO in 2001. It aims to combat terrorism, promote trade, and foster regional cooperation and stability. The nine members of the SCO are China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan. Pakistan originally joined only as an observer in 2005 but became a full member in 2017.
Significance of SCO for Pakistan
Strategic Regional Integration
- Provides geopolitical balance to pakistan's foreign policy by strengthening ties with China, Russia, and Central Asian Republics (CARs), also known as the four Stans.
- Reduces Pakistan's dependence on Western institutions such as the IMF and World Bank and provides Pakistan with alternatives.
Counterterrorism and Security Cooperation
- SCO's Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) facilitates intelligence sharing and joint military exercises.
- It helps address various threats in the region such as cross-border terrorism, drug trafficking from Afghanistan, and internal extremist networks in Balochistan and KPK.
Economic and Energy Cooperation
- Central Asia has an untapped market worth more than $1 trillion in the form of gas and oil reserves.
- This provides potential energy imports via gas pipelines and increased trade with landlocked Central Asia.
Diplomatic Leverage and Soft Power
- SCO provides the ability to engage with India in a non-hostile, neutral setting.
- It offers a platform where Pakistan can present its narrative on the Kashmir issue.
- SCO also offers a platform that can boost Pakistan's international visibility.
Afghanistan and Regional Stability
- Pakistan uses SCO to promote positive relations with the Afghan government.
- SCO also allows Pakistan to manage its border security and refugee spillover.
- Pakistan seeks regional consensus with Afghanistan, especially on the border issue, which SCO can facilitate.
Challenges and Limitations
India-Pakistan Tensions
- Bilateral conflicts spill over into SCO forums, impacting cooperative potential.
- India's opposition often limits Pakistan's proposals within SCO.
Underutilization of Economic Potential
- Trade with SCO members, except for China, remains minimal.
- Poor infrastructure and inconsistent internal policy reforms hinder progress.
Diplomatic Limitations
- SCO is not a conflict resolution body; therefore, it has no enforcement power on bilateral issues.
- Limited progress on free trade or a common currency between SCO members, unlike the European Union.
Recommendations for Pakistan
Deepen Ties with CARs
- Pakistan should deepen its ties with CARs to facilitate trade and energy agreements with them.
- Leverage CPEC to transit facilities to other SCO members, especially CARs.
Active Diplomacy
- Pakistan needs to reduce Indo-Pak friction to actually move forward with its proposals.
- It also needs to promote cultural diplomacy through media, tourism, and academic exchange programs with SCO members.
References
https://youtu.be/1kJf4krMY4A?si=jy-dn85mBL0lrnhw https://mofa.gov.pk/pakistans-membership-of-the-shanghai-cooperation-organization-sco https://ecfr.eu/article/rogue-nato-the-new-face-of-the-shanghai-cooperation-organisation/ https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2022/09/14/what-is-the-shanghai-co-operation-organisation https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2024/03/18/how-china-russia-and-iran-are-forging-closer-ties