SCO as a gateway to regional prosperity

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), made up of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India, Pakistan, Iran and Belarus is one of the largest regional organisations in the world.

The SCO has been expanding gradually since 2017, after the announcement of the Chinese-led China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). So far, 24 annual summits of heads of state of the SCO have been held. The 24th summit of the SCO, held in July in Astana, Kazakhstan, marked a major victory of China’s diplomatic clout due to the first-ever European state’s inclusion in the organization. The summit attracted widespread global attention and consolidated China’s influence in Eurasia, Central and South Asia.

Last year, Iran’s inclusion in the SCO was regarded as a smart move of the organisation in which Tehran conceded the SCO as an important opening towards the breaking of the US diplomatic blockade. Similarly, the addition of India and Pakistan in 2017 was considered a significant milestone, as it brought two nuclear states, which are rivals too, into the organisation. The fast-growing enlargement highlights the SCO's significance in South Asia and its potential influence on regional geopolitics and geoeconomics.

The expansion of the SCO also consolidates China’s position as a major power in international politics. Some scholars speculate that China wants to showcase its ability to be a global hegemon through the SCO and for that purpose, the inclusion of more states has become indispensable. The fast-track expansion of the SCO and its changing role, evolving from a regional cooperative platform to a broader security and economic bloc has a direct impact on Pakistan’s role in the organisation too since Pakistan is a key state for the BRI.

This year Pakistan is hosting various meetings of the SCO in the capacity of chair of the SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG), the second highest SCO forum that deals with economic, social, cultural and humanitarian issues as well as the personnel and budgetary matters of the organisation. As the host of the meeting, to be held next week, Pakistan has also extended the invitation to member states including India, which has accepted the invitation and publicised that Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar will attend the upcoming meeting.

This visit by the Indian minister for external affairs will be the first such visit by an Indian foreign minister in a decade. The summer will mark one of the biggest meetings of top world leaders in Pakistan and is being regarded as an honour for the country. Being the chair of the CHG of the SCO, Pakistan is making sincere efforts for collective prosperity with dedication to the SCO Charter.

Although the leadership role in the SCO is not new for Pakistan as it has already hosted the SCO Foreign Ministers' meeting in 2022, yet assuming the charge of chairman and holding meetings of the CHG is more inspiring. Pakistan has to demonstrate its skills in multilateral diplomacy. Moreover, the coming years are crucial for Pakistan in testifying its commitment and earnestness to regional stability and development as it will assume the role of chair of the SCO Council of Regional Antiterrorism Structure (CRATS) in 2025-26.

It will also take up the rotational chair of the SCO Council of Heads of State (CHS) and SCO Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) in 2026-27. These leading roles of Pakistan require internal stability as well as its ability to manage its relations with great powers namely China, the US and Russia. Therefore, the upcoming years are decisive for Pakistan in shaping the organization's future path. The expansion of the SCO signifies the strengthening of Pakistan’s relations with all the members of the SCO. The country will find new openings for economic cooperation within Eurasia. Pakistan's hosting of the SCO’s meetings is a testimony of its essential role within the organization. Successful meetings would highlight Pakistan's pledge to foster cooperation among member states. Moreover, Pakistan's role will grow predominantly in improving connectivity and stability in the region.

In different meetings of the SCO, Pakistan has always emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts to tackle security threats, especially in the context of the Afghanistan situation and its implications for regional security. Pakistan’s priorities in the SCO include cooperation in countering terrorism and extremism, and collaboration in socio-cultural, economic, and humanitarian spheres.

Pakistan has been facing the issue of cross-border terrorist attacks and has taken many steps to counter terrorism in Pakistan. It has shown interest in working with other member states of the SCO. In this regard, the SCO’s Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure helps member states to share intelligence to deter terrorism.

As a member, Pakistan participates in various security dialogues, focusing on counterterrorism and regional stability. This aligns with its domestic security needs and its strategic partnership with other states. Responsible roles for Pakistan in the SCO also provide it with certain opportunities to engage in multilateral diplomacy, even though there are multiple layers of complications including intricate relations between India and Pakistan.

Since the SCO provides expert reviews of trade and investment cooperation, the leading role of Pakistan in this organisation will increase business engagement with SCO members. The SCO guarantees to supply greater economic opportunities and signifies the chances of increased trade, investment, entrepreneurship, and regional connectivity. The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) has become a permanent member of the Business Council of the SCO. The FPCCI aims to help Pakistani businesses connect with their counterparts in SCO nations, fostering collaboration across various sectors.

As Pakistan continues to engage with the SCO, future meetings are expected to focus on deepening economic ties and enhancing security cooperation. While assuming a new role in the SCO, Pakistan should learn to manage diversity within the organisation by navigating its relationships with China, Russia, and India. It should also deal with domestic challenges through effective communication about the economic benefits of the SCO for people.

Pakistan should start wide-range public awareness campaigns that explain the SCO’s objectives, Pakistan's role, and the economic benefits Pakistan is deriving from membership. Trade statistics and growth figures should be disseminated to get the confidence of people. In short, smart decision-making is required to deal with foreign and domestic challenges.

The writer is an associate professor of international relations at the National University of Modern Languages, Islamabad.