Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) might become an interstate platform to help resolve political problems between Pakistan and India, said officials who attended the SCO summit held this week in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyz Republic.
Pakistan and India signed the SCO’s Memorandum of Obligations in June last, kick-starting the process of their accession into the group as a full member. Currently, they are having the observers’ status.
The officials said the SCO could have an effective contribution in promoting trust and confidence among the member countries. China being the major player in the organisation could also exercise its position reducing Indo-Pak tension through the SCO’s platform, reports Chinese State-run news agency Xinhua. Under its charter, the SCO’ members needed to work collectively to promote their common agenda, promoting peace and stability in the region. They are also required to implement the SCO’s official document regarding promoting of good neighbourhood.
China considers Pakistan and India responsible countries of the region, having the capacity of resolving their disputes through dialogue and consultation. China’s role is also highly important in bringing the member countries on the common agreement for fighting out terrorism and extremism, the report added.
Igor Shestakov, co-chairman of the “Pikir” regional club of experts in Kyrgyzstan, said that India and Pakistan are interested in entering the Central Asian market. “The SCO can become a tool to establish more effective trade and economic relations with the Central Asian region and other members of the organisation.
Zhymakadyr Akeneyev, who is a member of the Council for Statistics under the President of the Kyrgyz Republic. Bishkek said that SCO’s countries along the great Silk Road could work together for their common benefits. He hoped Pakistan and India after assuming full membership would try to reduce their difference, focusing more strengthening their business and trade interaction. ”
Using the SCO platform, we can discuss with China and other SCO member states absolutely all the issues that concern our country. The SCO allows us to use all our available capacity in the economy, geopolitics, culture and education,” he said.
Akeneyev also praised the SCO’s role in promoting bilateral relations between Kyrgyzstan and China, stressing that Kyrgyzstan has become better known in the world thanks to the bloc. ”
In any case, the accession of these countries to the organisation can enhance the image of the SCO on the international arena,” he said. “The latest developments in the world, including sanctions against Russia and creation of the Eurasian Union, brought SCO countries closer, and it became not only a platform to discuss some problems, but also an organisation that can really offer projects that are mutually beneficial to the participating countries,” he added. Speaking about the SCO’s role in fighting terrorism and extremism, Shestakov said it is a key responsibility of the organisation. “Today, we see that challenges that face the SCO countries are the same,” he said. “Today, the SCO has the same enemy: terrorism and extremism.”