PAKISTAN is always committed to dialogue and diplomacy. It prefers the resolution of disputes through peaceful means. Pakistan’s existence is itself evident of its commitment towards dialogue over war. History of Pakistan-India relations also highlights frequent shift towards peace processes initiated by Pakistan such as Composite Dialogues. Pakistan also played crucial role in bringing warring groups in Afghanistan on the table. Even on regional platforms, Pakistan always prioritized the significance of forum over its enmity. As a committed member of the SCO since joining in 2017, Pakistan recognizes the important role of regionalism in enhancing security, stability and economic growth.
Regardless of its strained relations with India, Pakistan did not back off from the regional forum, undermining credibility of the platform over India’s hostile approach. While, on the other hand India always tries to sabotage the regional arrangements via blame gaming or refusing to participate such as 19th SAARC summit, in which Pakistan was host but got cancelled. India’s animosity towards Pakistan, drives India to exploit every regional platform to degrade Pakistan. On other hand, Pakistan was aware of India’s attention still attended the SCO meeting of Foreign Ministers in Goa owing to its commitments to the principles and Charter of the SCO. Pakistan accepted India’s invitation to the 23rd meeting of SCO Council of Head of States (CHS).The event held virtually with SCO-member States heads joined the meet along with Iran, Belarus and Mongolia invited as Observer States where Iran joined as new member.
Theme of the Summit was “Towards a SECURE SCO”. The term ‘SECURE’ stands for Security, Economy and Trade, Connectivity, Unity, Respect for Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity and Environment. Though the term was coined by Narendra Modi, but if one analyses Indian government under Modi, these elements of ‘SECURE’ were sabotaged by Modi himself. India’s hegemonic designs under Modi have blatantly tarnished the concept of Security within State where Manipur is burning, Minorities are at verge of genocide, Sikhs are fighting for their rights, Kashmiris are struggling against State oppression and Muslims are victim of discriminatory policy of the State. Bulldozer politics is one of the tactics by Modi regime to silence the sane voices. As far as the respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty is concerned, the Balakot Crisis and the Brahmos Missile incident is the utter violation of territorial integrity and sovereignty of its neighbouring state. India is needed to implement these elements contributing towards regional stability.
India should raise against its petty politics in the interest of all the regional states. The region can only prosper and regionalism can prevail if India stops manipulating mutual issues such as terrorism, extremism and Kashmir conflict for diplomatic gains and move towards collectively addressing these issues. The way EU successfully contributed towards thwarting war and boosting economic growth.
The Eurasian region can also overcome its internal rifts through such platform as SCO, boosting durable peace and stability in the region. The SCO provides an excellent opportunity for such engagements where Pakistan and India along with other regional states can collaborate towards paving the way for sustainable peace and stability in the region. The SCO could prove to be an effective platform where steps must be taken to promote peace, trust and cooperation between the two nations.
—The writer is a Research Officer at the Centre for International Strategic Studies, AJK.
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