Syllabus: Important International institutions, agencies and fora — their structure, mandate.
About SCO
- SCO is a major Eurasian political, economic, and security organisation formed in 2001.
- It covers 60% of Eurasia, 40% of global population, and 20% of global GDP.
- Aims to strengthen cooperation in politics, security, economics, and culture.
- Has a permanent secretariat in Beijing and affiliated bodies like RATS and the SCO Business Council.
Historical Evolution
- Originated from the Shanghai Five (1996): China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan.
- Uzbekistan joined in 2001, forming SCO on 15 June 2001.
- India and Pakistan became members in 2017; Iran joined in 2023.
- Governed by the Heads of State Council (HSC) meeting annually.
Membership
- Currently 9 members: China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan.
Significance for India
- Security Cooperation
- Focus on terrorism, separatism, extremism, and cross-border crimes.
- Works through RATS and coordination with CSTO.
- Addresses cyber threats and harmful information flows.
- Military Cooperation
- Conducts joint military exercises and intelligence sharing.
- Enhances counter-terror capacity and regional stability.
- Economic Cooperation
- Promotes energy projects, water resource management, and joint investments via SCO Interbank Consortium.
- Supports food and energy security initiatives.
- Cultural Cooperation
- Regular meetings of culture ministers.
- Organises art festivals and exhibitions to enhance cultural exchange.
Key Challenges for SCO
- Conflicts Among Members
- India–China border tensions remain unresolved.
- India–Pakistan face terrorism-related conflicts and ceasefire violations.
- Kyrgyzstan–Tajikistan territorial disputes persist.
- Afghanistan–Pakistan border instability affects regional security.
- Power imbalance dominated by China and Russia.
- Limited economic integration and uneven development.
- Influence of external geopolitical powers complicates unity.
- Divergence in political systems and human rights commitments.
- Difficulty in coordinating anti-terror efforts due to differing priorities.
Conclusion
- SCO offers India significant strategic and economic opportunities in Eurasia.
- However, internal disputes, geopolitical rivalries, and weak institutional mechanisms continue to challenge its effectiveness.
Q- “India’s engagement with SCO is both an opportunity and a challenge.” Comment with examples. (10 Marks)
