{"id":123087,"date":"2026-09-06T10:13:55","date_gmt":"2026-09-06T04:43:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=123087"},"modified":"2026-09-06T12:22:37","modified_gmt":"2026-09-06T06:52:37","slug":"shanghai-cooperation-organisation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/shanghai-cooperation-organisation\/","title":{"rendered":"Shanghai Cooperation Organisation &#8211; India\u2019s Role, Significance and Challenges"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Latest News<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The 26<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">th<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) was held in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic, on August 31-September 1, 2026. The summit marked 25 years of the organisation, which was established in 2001.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Shanghai Cooperation Organisation: Background<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The SCO originated from the Shanghai Five, comprising <\/span><b>China<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><b>Russia<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><b>Kazakhstan<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><b>Kyrgyzstan<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>Tajikistan<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The grouping was formally established as the SCO on June 15, 2001.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India and Pakistan became full members in 2017, expanding the organisation&#8217;s geographical and strategic significance.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The SCO does not have a collective defence mechanism. Instead, it functions as a platform for political dialogue, security cooperation, counter-terrorism, economic engagement and regional coordination.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The organisation currently operates through 29 charter bodies and more than 40 working mechanisms, providing regular channels for interaction among member states.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Key Areas of SCO Cooperation<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Counter-Terrorism and Security<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Countering terrorism, separatism and extremism remains a central objective of the SCO.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/bishkek-declaration-sco-summit\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Bishkek Summit<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the declaration strongly condemned terrorism. This was particularly significant for India, which has consistently advocated a zero-tolerance approach to terrorism and opposed double standards in counter-terrorism efforts.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India also highlighted the importance of peace and stability in Afghanistan and called for an inclusive government in the country.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>West Asian Conflicts<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Bishkek Declaration expressed deep concern over military strikes against Iran and reaffirmed support for Iran&#8217;s sovereignty and territorial integrity.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The SCO also emphasised the peaceful use of atomic energy, supporting the inalienable right of states to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On the Palestine issue, member states stated that a just settlement of the Palestine question was essential for lasting stability in West Asia.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Connectivity and Sovereignty<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India supported greater connectivity between markets of SCO member states, while emphasising respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This position is significant because India has consistently opposed the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) due to its passage through Pakistan-occupied territory.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The SCO declaration supported the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and advocated its alignment with the Eurasian Economic Union. India, however, did not endorse the BRI.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>News Summary: India\u2019s Engagement with the SCO<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India has used the SCO as an important platform for pursuing its diplomatic and strategic objectives since joining in 2017.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At the Bishkek Summit, Prime Minister Modi emphasised \u201cno double standards\u201d in fighting terrorism and highlighted India&#8217;s humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan. India&#8217;s position on connectivity also reflected its emphasis on territorial sovereignty.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The summit was particularly important because <\/span><b>Pakistan assumed the chairmanship of the SCO, with the next summit scheduled to be held in Pakistan<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India&#8217;s participation will therefore require careful diplomatic consideration given the deterioration in India-Pakistan relations following the Pahalgam terror attack, Operation Sindoor and the subsequent decision regarding the Indus Waters Treaty.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The SCO nevertheless provides India and Pakistan with a multilateral setting for sustained engagement. Such institutionalised interaction can help prevent bilateral tensions from escalating or spilling over into wider regional instability.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Significance of the SCO for India<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The SCO provides India with access to a multilateral platform involving China, Russia, Iran and Central Asian countries. It enables India to:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Engage simultaneously with major Eurasian powers.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Advance cooperation against terrorism and extremism.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Participate in discussions on Afghanistan and regional security.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Strengthen economic and connectivity linkages with Central Asia.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Maintain diplomatic channels with China and Pakistan.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Engage Russia and Iran within a broader multilateral framework.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The organisation also provides an avenue for discussing global issues such as international security, missile defence, maritime connectivity and alternative financial mechanisms.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The proposed establishment of an <\/span><b>SCO Development Bank<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and discussions on greater use of local currencies indicate efforts towards deeper financial and economic cooperation among member states.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Challenges<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The SCO faces structural limitations because its members have significant geopolitical differences.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India and China continue to have unresolved border issues, while India and Pakistan face deep bilateral tensions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Similarly, members have different positions on conflicts such as Ukraine and West Asia. The organisation&#8217;s consensus-based functioning can therefore make substantive collective action difficult.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nevertheless, the SCO&#8217;s survival for 25 years despite these differences demonstrates the continuing relevance of multilateral dialogue and institutionalised engagement.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation has evolved into an important Eurasian multilateral platform.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For India, its significance lies not only in security cooperation but also in maintaining diplomatic engagement with China, Russia, Iran, Central Asia and Pakistan.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite internal differences, the SCO provides India with strategic space to pursue its interests, advocate counter-terrorism, promote regional connectivity and maintain dialogue in an increasingly fragmented international order.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Source :<\/b> <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/international\/shanghai-cooperation-organisation-the-house-of-multilaterals\/article71433152.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">TH<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Shanghai Cooperation Organisation offers India a platform for counter-terrorism, regional stability, connectivity and Eurasian engagement.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":123100,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[60,10054,22,59],"class_list":["post-123087","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-upsc-mains-current-affairs","tag-mains-articles","tag-shanghai-cooperation-organisation","tag-upsc-current-affairs","tag-upsc-mains-current-affairs","no-featured-image-padding"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123087","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=123087"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123087\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":123099,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123087\/revisions\/123099"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/123100"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=123087"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=123087"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=123087"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}