Dr Ashwani Mahajan
India and Pakistan are now set to join Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) officially as members in 2016. SCO was formally constituted in 2001 by six countries namely, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
Decision to include India and Pakistan in the organisation was taken on July 10, 2015 and they are set to become members of SCO in 2016; and it would be an organisation with 8 members then.
This organisation constituted in 2001, for countries of Europe and Asia (Called Eurasia), is basically an organisation, for economic and defence co-operation, which was by leaders of six nations. Prior to the making to SCO; there was a group of 5 nations, without Uzbekistan, which had been working since 1996 in the name of Shanghai Five Group. Later Uzbekistan was also included in this Group.
Difference of opinions, border issues and policy differences, sometimes take form of disputes and even war. Resources get diverted into defence and development gets disturbed.
Group of nations signed an agreement in 1997, for reducing army on borders. Later annual conferences of the Group were held in 1998, 1999 and 2000 in Almaty (Kazakhstan),Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) and in Dushanbe (Tajikistan) respectively.
In Dushanbe Conference, member nations of the Group, agreed to “oppose intervention in other countries’ internal affairs on the pretexts of ‘humanitarianism’ and ‘protecting human rights;’ and support the efforts of one another in safeguarding the five countries’ national independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and social stability.”
Five members group conference was held in Shanghai in 2001, in which firstly Uzbekistan was officially included in the Group. Later on June 15, 2001, heads of state of the Group praising the role of the ‘Shanghai Five Groups’, decided to change the name of the Group to Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. It was also decided to take the cooperation among the member states to a higher level. Later on in 2002, in Saint Petersburg (Russia), members agreed on SCO’s Charter, expounding on the organisation’s purposes, principles, structures and form of operation, and established it in international law.
Potentially Influential Group
Six member nations of SCO (before India and Pakistan join) represent 60 percent of land mass and one forth of world population. After India and Pakistan join the organisation, its importance would increase even more. Though on the outset, it looks that main objective of SCO is to maintain peace. However, experts believe that SCO’s aim is not just maintaining peace in the region, if we look at the political systems in the member nations, to avoid possibility of any political instability, also seems to be the objective of SCO. Closer look at the nature of polity in present day member nations reveals that democracy is totally absent in China; in Russia again it is very underdeveloped. In other countries too, we find near absence of democracy. Therefore, this agreement, which is supposed to protect and honour each other’s sovereignty and borders, actually means agreeing to avoid any possibility of political instability in these countries.
Meaning of Entry of India and Pakistan
Generally India and Pakistan are known for enmity. Therefore entry of these two nations in this regional cooperation organisation is seen with curiosity. Though Pakistan had applied for SCO’s membership many years ago, India had sought its membership only recently. It is notable that currently both these countries are there in SCO as observers. Many meaning are being assigned to the entry of India and Pakistan in SCO.
Firstly, impact of entry of these two nations would be that it would become a much more important organisation in ‘Eurasia’, as then it would represent more land mass and population.
Secondly, tag of dominance of China and Russian on SCO would be removed and nature of the organisation will change.
Thirdly, leaders of dominant nations in SCO, namely China and Russia are considered to be anti-USA; with India and Pakistan joining the organisation would remove the impression that this organisation is anti-USA.
Fourthly, it would give an opportunity to India to extend its friendship in the region. It is notable that in the recent overseas visits of the Prime Minister Modi, which included 5 nations, had four members of SCO, namely Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. This underlines the importance of member nations of SCO for India. It is notable that India has been eying on the natural gas reserves of Turkmenistan and oil and uranium reserves of Kazakhstan; however there was no good opportunity for India for the same, and many practical problems were coming in way of the project of laying gap pipe line from Turkmenistan via Afghanistan and Pakistan has also been pending. After India joining SCO, these practical problem being faced by India could be overcame.
Fifthly, it would first time that two nuclear powers of the region, which are also opposed to each other, would be part of one regional cooperation organisation.
India Needs to be Cautious
India has to plan systematically, so that it can gain after becoming member of SCO. It is notable that whereas China has planned to build Silk Road with an investment of $15 to $30 billion in the region, which would improve its reach in the region. However, such a plan is lacking with India. This is a fact that once India becomes member of this organisation, many of the problems it faces in the region could be overcome.
(The author is Associate Professor, PGDAV College, University of Delhi)
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