Ever since Pakistan and India were formally inducted in the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation last year, the group represents 40% of the world’s population and almost 20% of its GDP. Bringing in the two South Asian neighbours into the folds of the SCO in June 2017 initially gave rise to conjecture whether they would co-exist. On a positive note, the primary focus being on security and economic integration in Eurasia, in the SCO participation of all member states in its activities has been mandatory. Keeping in mind the usually choppy relations between both the new member states, any degree of maintained dialogue or inter-action between them is positive and should be encouraged.
Recently, Indian and Pakistani representatives have attended a meeting for military and defence officials for SCO member states last month. Reviewing military activities from last year, decisions were taken to further synchronize this year’s multi-lateral counter-terrorism exercises with improved security under the SCO framework. As reported by Russian news agency Ria Novosti, Pakistan’s ambassador to Russia, Kazi Khalilullah has confirmed his country’s participation, “I understand that the exercise ‘Peace Mission-2018’ is being conducted under the auspices of the SCO, Pakistan attaches importance to SCO events, and we took part in the first round of expert talks related to the exercises, which were held in Yekaterinburg in November 2017. We intend to participate in the exercises this year.” Held every two years, the Peace Mission counter-terrorism exercises last took place in 2016 in Kyrgyzstan. Ensuring combat readiness and co-ordination for any eventual joint counter-terror operations, participants take part in joint drills, training and data sharing.
Commenting on the development, Indian diplomat Phunchok Stobdan says, “The memorandum of obligations of the SCO dictates joint military exercises. The initiative will certainly bring greater confidence in military-to-military interface. Russia and China are also keen on bringing India and Pakistan together. India and Pakistan have jointly worked together under the United Nations, but this will be the first time in a smaller group as far as joint military exercises are concerned.” Not only that, the platform encourages multilateral co-operation in trade, energy, education and tourism as well. In its endeavour to boost security co-operation and mutual political trust, China also proposed at the 12th session of SCO Security Council secretaries in Astana that an anti-extremism treaty be signed by members for legally dealing with issues such as separatism, extremism, cyber security and drug control.
Agreeing to uphold the maxims of the Shanghai Spirit, defence ministries and armed forces of all the SCO member nations will continue to adhere to the same rules as announced on June 15th, 2001 when it was created by founder members China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan as a Eurasian political, economic and military organisation. Engagement, interaction and dialogue will continue throughout the year, an event by the name of ‘Fanfare for Peace Military Tattoo’ is to be held as well as a meeting for defence ministers from all the SCO countries, according to the Chinese Defence Ministry. After the inclusion of new members, these measures would further enhance the defence co-ordination, internal solidarity and integration of the group. Apart from ‘Peace-Mission 2018’, India and Pakistan would also be part of the Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure (RATS) group based in Tashkent under the SCO, both the member states would agree to exchange information and combat terrorism under its auspices.
Highlighting the importance of communication and co-ordination, Meena Singh Roy from the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses in Delhi shared that, “Ever since its creation in 2004, RATS has focused on collective counter-terrorist training and has coordinated with member-states specifically over the Winter Asian Games in Astana in 2010 and during the Beijing Olympics in 2008. The main objective is to establish a mechanism of communication between the SCO member-states in order to facilitate greater coordination between each state’s internal security organs. It organizes regular meetings of border agencies to discuss effective means to tackle the existing challenges. It has prevented 600 terrorist attacks. Last year, 400 terrorists were arrested and more than 100 extradited. Over 900 anti-terrorist personnel have been trained till 2014.”
Meanwhile, Alexander Lukin, the Director, Center for East Asian and SCO Studies says it is a good opportunity and ‘it will provide a new and important platform for India-Pakistan dialogue.’ Having successfully benefited China, Russia and the Central Asian Republics ink agreements in the past regarding deployment of their conventional forces on the borders, the SCO is undoubtedly an ideal forum for establishing a confidence building mechanism. Working together towards the same objectives on the same platform helps in removing mistrust and promotes dialogue on diverse matters, coming together under the SCO umbrella can be very effective. Multi-lateral co-operation could eventually pave the way for more bilateral inter-action in trade and other fields.
China.org.cn
China.org.cn
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