SCO CFM: From multilateral imperatives to bilateral shadows
THE unnecessary anticipation of international community for a bilateral breakthrough in Indo-Pak relationship during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Goa (4-5 May 23) was an overkill. The Western analysis leading up to Bilawal’s visit to India only suggested that the SCO meeting could lay the groundwork for future interaction between the archrivals. This particular narrative overshadowed the actual reason of Pakistan’s decision to participate in a multilateral meeting to which it assigns utmost importance. This was clearly signaled in Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto’s statement, “There couldn’t be a more powerful indication of the importance that Pakistan attaches to the SCO than my presence here in Goa for this CFM.”
Indian media gave greater attention to FM Bilawal Bhutto’s visit to India than to the real agenda of the CFM meeting which indicated India’s never-ending obsession with Pakistan. Prior to the visit, Indian media misreported that Pakistan had requested a bilateral meeting between Bilawal and Jaishankar. Pakistan had to clarify saying that “it has not made any request for a bilateral meeting on the margins of the SCO Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Goa next month.” Therefore, it would be imprudent to see FM Bilawal’s visit as an attempt to kick-start a bilateral reconciliation process. SCO has never been a forum to discuss bilateral issues between the member states. Instead, it focuses on multilateral subjects relating to politics, improving trade and economy through regional connectivity, making joint efforts to maintain and ensure peace, security and stability in the region.
India EAM Jaishankar’s remarks that “Victims of terrorism do not sit together with perpetrators of terrorism,” reflects poorly on Indian part. Given that elections are just around the corner in India, history suggests that BJP has always used anti-Pakistan rhetoric to win popular support. This particular Indian approach only vindicates what FM Bilawal Bhutto alluded to in his statement “Let’s not get caught up in weaponizing terrorism for diplomatic point scoring.”
The visit of Pakistan’s Foreign Minister to India after approximately 12 years doesn’t in any way reflect a change in Pakistan’s principled position on significant issues of divergence – particularly the Kashmir dispute. Despite India’s dismissive behavior towards Pakistan’s peace overtures in the past, latter has always advocated for normalizing relations with India. However, India’s unilateral revocation of Article 35A and 370 has significantly undermined the environment to hold any conducive dialogue.
India has demonstrated in every possible way that it does not want peaceful settlement of outstanding disputes with Pakistan and chose to remain disengaged. India is unlikely to change its course owing to its greater international relevance and resultant dismissiveness towards Pakistan. Given India’s intransigence over the Kashmir issue, there is no hope for any breakthrough and normalization of the relationship. Pakistan must strictly base its relations with India on the principles of reciprocity.
Pakistan’s participation is a reflection of its commitment to SCO’s vision of cooperation, connectivity and integration in the region. FM Bilawal’s participation in the meeting must not be mistaken in any way as contributing to the breaking of ice between the two nuclear armed neighbours. The visit solely was a regional imperative for Pakistan – not a bilateral one. By skipping the SCO summit, Pakistan would have risked losing clout within the organization, which is dominated by China and Russia. Pakistan enjoys great relationship with the former and keen to cultivate deeper ties with Russia.
This, however, does not mean that Pakistan should give up on resolving issues that hostage regional peace, prosperity and stability. Till the time India is willing to acknowledge and address Pakistani concerns on India-sponsored terrorism inside Pakistan and desists from maligning and attempting to isolate Pakistan, any chances of result-oriented and meaningful dialogue are slim. Notwithstanding the evidence of Indian involvement in terrorist activities inside Pakistan that the latter has frequently presented, India’s highest political leadership acknowledged terrorism as a mutual concern. This should provide a good start to look at this issue rather than blaming and ostracizing Pakistan alone as responsible for all ills.
Besides terrorism, the other more enduring root cause of this uneasy relationship is the Kashmir dispute. Resolution of Kashmir dispute, in line with the aspirations of Kashmiris, is the only viable pathway to regional peace, economic integration and shared prosperity for the region.
— The writer is a Senior Visiting Research Fellow at Strategic Vision Institute (SVI), Islamabad.
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