Nitya Chakraborty
India is pitching in an aggressive manner for the full membership of the Sanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) for playing its due role in the affairs of the Asian region. The SCO membership is expected to give India more leeway in dealing more effectively with the energy security issues.
India is upbeat this time over the possibility of getting full membership of the Sanghai Coperation Organisation(SCO) at the next summit later this year. India is hoping that with Russia taking over the chairmanship of the SCO at the next meeting, Indian representation will get positive response since India has already lobbied with the Russian Government
.At the SCO Primeministerial meeting in Bishkek , the capital city of Kyrgyzstan in December 2012, Indian officials made it clear that India stands ready to play a larger and more active role in the SCO as a full member as and when the membership issue is decided by the SCO member countries. India is presently an observer in the SCO along with countries like Pakistan, Iran, Mongolia and Afghanistan. All other countries are seeking full membership also but indications are there that if India is given full membership, Pakistan will also be given the same to ensure parity in South Asian geopolitica.
India is of the view that the country has got much common interests with Russia in the security and economic development of the region and there can be a joint approach between the two countries on many issues concerning the region. Russis becoming the Chairman of the SCO, can be to India’s advantage as India and Russia can jointly help in steering the course of the SCO towards meaningful cooperation among the member countries for ensuring security and development of the Asian region.
India like Russia and other SCO member countries share common interests in the stability of Afghanistan, especially after the withdrawal of the western troops by 2014.India is one of the biggest international donors in Afghanistan, having already committed nearly US$4 2 billion in aid. Once the western troops exit Afghanistan by 2014,there will be a power vacuum in the country which China will try its best to fill, both by itself or through the SCO mechanism. Hence it is important for India not to give China a free run in post-2014 Afghanistan.
The fight against terrorism is another important area of cooperation between India and SCO member countries because these countries like India , are also at risk from terrorist attacks. India has indicated its willingness to increase its engagement with threats(The Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure) which is based in Tashkent and is a permanent organ of the SCO in the light of its own experience of being at the receiving end of some major terrorist attacks.
Indian foreign ministry officials are of the view that the Central Asian countries are very important for supplying India with stable energy supplies at a time when its energy demand is rising. The much duiscussed Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline does not seem to be moving as desired due to the big pressure from the United States. On the other hand, the TAPI pipeline is set to bring natral gas frpom Turkmenistan to India via Afghanistan and Pakistan. Kazakhastan is already a major source of energy for India. There is an agreement in place between India’s ONGC Videsh Ltd and KazMunaiGaz for the Satpayev oil block while a memorandum of understanding exists between India’s state owned NPCIL and Kazatomprom for the supply of uranium to India.
Indian sources say that Pakistan is lobbying hard for full membership of the SCO and it is getting backing from China. Hence it is of paramount importance for India to be in SCO as a full member otherwise Pakistan will be using the forum of SCO for its anti-India policies.
The SCO membership also gets well with India’s connect central Asia policy which aims to increase its political, economic and people to people links with the central Asian nations.The bilateral ties between India and the present SCO member countries have always been very strong. Indian sources feel that SCO stands to gain from India’s experience in areas like finance and banking. In fact India wants to share its expertise, in banking, capital markets and micro finance woth the SCO members.
India had cooperated with countries like Russia, Iran and Tajjikistan in backing the Northern Alliance in Afghanistan and after the withdrawal of of the western forces by 2014, such an arrangement may need to be resuscitated in the light of the Taliban regaining strength in most parts of Afghanistan.
India also is of the view that the presence of India as a full member in the SCO will ensure that China does not become the dominant force in the grouping.Chinese backing for Pakistan has also not gone down well with some of the SCO countries in view of Pakistan being the base of many terrorist groups. (IPA)
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