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India's External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, will travel to Pakistan for the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting scheduled for October 15-16. The decision comes despite the strained bilateral relations between the two nations. Jaishankar will lead the Indian delegation to the summit in Islamabad, a significant event for India-Pakistan relations as it highlights their ability to cooperate despite ongoing tensions.
The SCO, a Eurasian intergovernmental organization, is a platform where India and Pakistan have found common ground. Despite the history of hostility between the two countries, the SCO Charter prohibits member-states from raising bilateral issues during meetings. This has facilitated cooperation within the framework of the organization, leading to joint participation in SCO exercises and even visits by foreign ministers from both sides.
The SCO's significance extends beyond the diplomatic realm. It represents a significant geopolitical force, encompassing three-fifths of the Eurasian continent and almost half of the world's population. With 42 percent of the global population and 20 percent of the global GDP, the SCO is often considered a counterbalance to NATO, limiting the United States' influence in Central Asia. India's membership in the SCO, achieved in 2017, was largely driven by Russia's desire to counter China's growing regional influence.
The SCO's influence has become increasingly relevant as the geopolitical landscape evolves. Since 2014, India has aimed to remain involved in the SCO to balance the deepening ties between Russia and China. This strategy coincides with India's closer relationship with the United States, further highlighting India's complex geopolitical maneuvering.
Beyond the SCO, the article touches upon the future of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). The organization has been in abeyance since 2017, and Jaishankar, responding to queries about its revival, stated that India has prioritized the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC). While India acknowledges the importance of regional cooperation, the government believes that SAARC's progress is stalled due to the stance of a particular country, a veiled reference to Pakistan. This highlights the ongoing challenges to regional cooperation in South Asia.
Source: External affairs minister S Jaishankar to visit Pakistan for SCO meeting