WITH the major theme of Strengthening Multilateral Dialogue-Striving Towards a Sustainable Peace and Prosperity, the 24th summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) was held at Astana, Kazakhstan on July 3-4, 2024. At the time of global crises, the Astana Summit of the SCO promised to be a pivotal event, for addressing key issues which impact the SCO states and this region. The Summit also decided to provide a platform to advocate dialogue and diplomacy for resolution of issues and conflicts at regional and global level. 24th Summit of the SCO mainly focused on discussing strategies to address common regional and global challenges. Besides heads of the states/governments of the member states, observer states and the dialogue partners, UN Secretary-General António Guterres also attended the summit.
The major agenda of the 24th Summit of the SCO was the title of the meeting; Strengthening Multilateral Dialogue—Striving Towards a Sustainable Peace and Prosperity. It further featured a comprehensive agenda which focussed on areas like; a) cooperation and development among member states, b) security and stability of the SCO region and states, and c) an Initiative On World Unity for Just Peace and Harmony, as proposed by Kazakhstan. Astana summit signed at least 20 major documents which include: Astana SCO Declaration, the SCO Development Strategy until 2035, the Energy Cooperation Development Strategy until 2030, the Program of Cooperation in Countering Terrorism, Separatism and Extremism for 2025-2027, and the SCO Anti-Drug Strategy for 2024-2029.
Though the entire Astana Summit of the SCO deliberated on peace, harmony and promotion of dialogue, nevertheless, the document proposed by Kazakhstan for “an initiative On World Unity for Just Peace and Harmony, aims at strengthening confidence-building measures and maintaining stable development of all countries of the world. It is worth mentioning that, at the time of international crises, this initiative from the SCO is a sincere attempt for ending the conflicts and promoting cooperation and peace. This initiative from the SCO forum will greatly help the world in understanding the true objectives of this organization (SCO) and its future roles towards international peace and harmony by ending the conflicts through hard power. It is worth mentioning that SCO member states have almost over 40% of the global population, 27 % of world’s GDP and about 80% of Eurasian landmass.
Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif represented Pakistan in the Astana Summit of the SCO. On the side-lines of the summit Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with key heads of the member states, focussing on bilateral relations between Pakistan and the members’ states of the SCO. During his meeting with Russian President Mr Putin, Prime Minister Sharif proposed to boost Pakistan-Russian trade and bilateral cooperation. Earlier Prime Minister visited Tajikistan with his key aides. Both countries decided to further enhance the bilateral relationship and cooperation of trade and emergency sectors. From the forum of SCO Pakistan emphasized cooperation that rejects confrontation and advances the imperatives of peaceful co-existence at the regional and international level. Indeed, peace is the most needed aspect for each state at regional level as well as at global level.
By virtue of its geopolitical location, Pakistan is in the vicinity of world’s major economies and emerging regional markets. Besides, it occupies a strategic location vis-à-vis great powers and their strategic interests. Therefore, Pakistan can utilize economic tools like trade, energy, and investment, infrastructure development to further its geopolitical and geo-economic objectives in a befitting manner. For Pakistan, the SCO is the most vital cooperative forum. Through this forum, Pakistan can boost trade and commerce from the member states of SCO. Being an emerging security bloc against terrorism, SCO can greatly help Pakistan in reducing its traditional and non-traditional security threats.
After 2021, Pakistan is facing a new wave of militancy and terrorism from across its western borders. Afghanistan has again become a hub of militancy and terrorism in Pakistan. SCO member states are fully cognizant of the contribution and sacrifices Pakistan has rendered for the global peace and security by combating terrorism in the first two decades of 21st century. Besides, Pakistan desires that SCO should play a decisive role towards resolution of the unresolved dispute of Jammu and Kashmir. India has been illegally occupying a major portion of Jammu and Kashmir since 1947 and illegally annexed it into its union on August 5, 2019. In order to dislodge the CPEC, India is promoting separatism, extremism and terrorism in parts of Pakistan which is against the basic spirit of SCO.
Pakistan is not in favour of any arms race, but it desires other regional countries like India to cooperate for promotion of peace and regional stability in South Asia and broader SCO region. Pakistan believes in peace and cooperative relationship with its neighbours. In this regard, it fits into the principal objective of SCO which calls for peace not the war and cooperation not the conflict. There are many commonalities in the SCO Charter and the foreign policy of Pakistan. As one of its permanent members, Pakistan has assumed a crucial position for this forum.
Indeed, SCO is not a military alliance, yet it seeks to address major security threats in the region and establish a peaceful environment that boosts trade and cooperation among the member states. It offers an opportunity to deliberate on the pressing energy, trade and economy issues and take steps towards desired outcomes. It mainly stresses to strengthen the existing SCO mechanisms while addressing global issues such as food security, climate change and counter-terrorism. Pakistan visualized SCO for galvanization of the Shanghai Spirit to strengthen the mandate of the forum while reducing the risks of conflict, fostering confidence and promoting stability.
— The writer is Professor of Politics and IR at International Islamic University, Islamabad.
