PAKISTANANDSHANGHAICOOPERATIONORGANIZATION

Th e Sh an gh a i Co op e ra t ion o rga n iza t io n is an imp o rt an t re g ion a l o rga n izat io n . It

o we s it s o rig in to "Sh a ng ha i Five " f o rme d in Ap ril, 19 96 by Ru ssia, Ch ina , an d t h ree
cen t ra l A sian cou nt rie s — K aza kh st an , K yrg yzst an a nd Ta jikist a n . It wa s re na me d as
S ha ng ha i Coo p e ra t io n O rga n izat io n (S CO ) af te r th e jo in in g o f Uzbe kist an on 1 5 Ju ne ,
2 00 1. It s ma in o b je ct ive is clo se co lla bo ra t ion an d in t e ra ct io n a mon g th e me mb e r
st at e s in a ll f ie ld s. Mu tu a l t ru st a nd con f ide n ce, mu t ua l be ne f it s, mu tu a l con su lt at io n ,
re spe ct fo r so ve re ig n t y a nd te rrit o ria l in t eg rit y o f e a ch ot he r, ju st ice, e qu a l righ t s an d
o pp o rtu n it ie s a re so me of t he ba sic p rin cip le s o f t he o rg an iza t ion .
Th e imp o rt an ce of Pa kist an an d it s a ct ive ro le in S CO ca nn o t b e u nd e re st ima t ed .
P a kista n, wh ich cu rre n t ly is an o bse rve r, can n ot re ma in a loo f f ro m an o rga n izat io n
wh ich ha s e me rg ed a s a n imp o rt an t reg io na l g rou p th at is n ow b e in g vie we d by a
n u mb e r o f We ste rn , an d e spe cia lly A me rica n scho la rs, a s a ne w "Wa rsa w P a ct "
cha lle n g ing A me rica n in te re st s in t he reg io n. The u lt ima te g oa l of th e SCO is to cre at e
"mu lt ila t e ra l p a rt ne rsh ip " in o rde r t o d ef u se t en sion b y de ve lo p ing co n f ide n ce - bu ild ing
me a su re s t h ro ug h mut u a l dia log u e a nd int e ra ct ion . Pa kista n is a mo ng t he f irst co un t ry
t o a pp ly f o r "Ob se rve r St a tu s" in t he S CO . The e me rg in g ge o -po lit ica l an d g eo -
e co n o mica l re a lit ie s a t th e reg io na l an d g lo ba l le ve ls de ma nd ed th at I sla ma ba d jo ine d
t h is g rou p . It wo u ld a lso he lp imp ro ve Pa kist an 's re la t io n s wit h Ru ssia. On t he o th e r
h an d, f ro m S CO 's po in t of vie w Pa kist an 's in clu sio n will p ro vid e a n at u ra l lin k t o th e
me mb e r sta te s t o con n e ct t he Eu ra sian h ea rt lan d wit h t he A rab ia n S ea an d S ou t h
A sia .
Importance of SCO for Pakistan
P a kista n va lu e s h igh ly it s re lat io n s wit h t he S CO a nd f u lly sh a re s in it s o bje ct ive s
f o r p ro mot in g e co no mic coo p e ra t io n a mo n g st th e me mbe r st a te s. P a kista n wa s t he
f irst cou n t ry to ap p ly fo r an "O b se rve r" sta tu s in th e S CO . Pa kista n 's ad missio n wa s
f irst h an d ica pp e d b y th e Ce n t ra l A sia n me mb e rs fo r t he ir su pp o rt of th e "No rt h e rn
A llia n ce " (e th n ic Ta jiks an d Uzbe ks) ag a in st Pu sh t oo n -d o mina te d Ta lib an in
A fg ha n ist an . P akist a n no t o nly su pp o rt ed th e Ta lib a n, wh o con t ro lle d a lmo st 80 p e r
cen t o f A fg ha n ista n , bu t a lso acco rde d d e -fa cto re co gn it io n t o th e ir g o ve rn me nt .
Ta jikist a n st ron g ly o pp o se d Pa kist an 's me mbe rsh ip d ue t o it s st ron g sup po rt fo r
Ta lib an in Af gh an ist an .
Two d e ve lo p men t s g rea t ly f a cilit a te d P akist an 's en t ry in to S CO . First , th e
d ep a rtu re of t he Ta lib a n f ro m A fg ha n ista n re mo ve d a ma jo r irrit a n t in Pa k-Ce n t ra l
A sian re la t io n s. An d, se con d ly, th e con ve rge n ce of in t e re st s b et we en Pa kista n a nd
S CO me mbe rs o n t he g lo ba l wa r a ga in st t e rro rism. Th e sh if t in it s fo re ign p o licy,
e sp e cia lly wit h reg a rd t o exte n d in g co o pe ra t ion to a ll me mbe r co un t rie s on th e issu e
o f an t i-t e rro rist ef fo rt s he lpe d Pa kist an in p re sen t in g a co rre ct st an ce in t he
mu lt ila t e ra l f o ru m. Pa kista n jo in ed t he SCO in 20 05 a nd a s f ill me mbe r on Jun e 2 01 7.
Wit h th e pa ssa g e of t ime , S CO p ro ve d t o be a n impo rt a nt o rg an iza t ion f ro m th e po in t
o f vie w se cu rit y, e co n o mic, st ra t eg ic a nd so cia l p u rp o se s.
Th e re is a g rea t n ee d to p ro mot e t ra de , e ne rg y, in ve st men t , t ran sp o rta t ion ,
b an king , an d t ou rism a mon g t he me mb e r st a te s. Th e me mbe rs o f t he o rga n izat io n will
a lso h e lp P akist a n t o imp ro ve re lat io n s with Ru ssia . I n t he p ast , P a kista n wa s
co mp let e ly d ep en d en t o n th e We st fo r econ o mic an d milit a ry assist a n ce wh ich b ad ly
a ff e cte d t he f o rmu lat io n o f it s f ree a nd in de p en de n t fo re ig n po licy. Th e me mbe rsh ip in
S CO will p re sen t it wit h a n a lt e rn at ive . The expa n sion of S CO h as be en in st ru men ta l
in p ro mo t in g p ea ce, po lit ica l st ab ilit y an d e co no mic p ro sp e rit y in t he en t ire reg io n .
P a kista n 's a ct ive a nd f rie n d ly coo pe ra t ion wit h a ll t he me mb e rs o f th e o rga n izat io n fo r
t he rea liza t io n o f it s o b je ct ive s will f u rth e r e nsu re p ro g re ss a nd p ro spe rit y in t he
re g ion . Th e ge og ra ph ica l con t igu it y o f t he me mbe rs wit h Pa kist an a nd sh a red cu ltu ra l
a nd h ist o rica l b on ds g ive d ep th t o t he se re la t ion s. Pa kist an se rve s a s a b ridg e fo r
lin kin g Cen t ra l Asia wit h S ou t h A sia an d be yo n d. Pa kista n st ron g ly su pp o rt s t he
p rin cip le s a nd pu rp o se s of S CO a s th e p o licie s an d p rog ra mme s o f t he S CO a re in
con so na n ce with Pa kist an 's lo ng - te rm o bje ct ive s. Pa kista n can at ta in t he fo llo win g
a dva nt a ge s in it s clo se co lla bo ra t ion wit h S CO :
• Th e po st 9/ 11 wo rld is f ig ht in g a wa r a ga in st te rro rism an d, in t h is, P akist an is a n
imp o rt an t sta te . The S CO me mb e r co u nt rie s h ave a lso be co me t he vict ims o f
t e rro rism. P a kista n a nd S CO ca n wo rk clo se ly to roo t ou t t he g ro wing men a ce o f
t e rro rism. I n re cen t yea rs, re lig iou s e xt re mism h as be co me a g re a t p rob le m f o r th e
cou n t rie s o f S CO mo st of wh o m a re e xp e rien cin g it s wo rst fo rm. Pa kista n i- ba se d
re lig io u s g ro u p s ha ve be en a ccu se d o f su pp o rt ing th e se a ct ivit ie s. Pa kist an ha s
a lwa ys de no un ced e xt re mism a nd re lig io u s fu nd a men t a lism. The re fo re , S CO a nd
P a kista n ca n wo rk t og e th e r on th is g ra ve p ro b le m.
• Un de r t he S CO b an ne r, I sla mab ad can imp ro ve it s d ef en ce an d se cu rit y re la t ion s
wit h Ru ssia. Mo reo ve r, S CO 's re g ion a l an t i-t e rro rism st ru ct u re (RA TS ) will h e lp
P a kista n t o in st it ut io na lize a nt i- te rro rism coo pe ra t ion in a mo re co mp re he n sive
a nd at a wid e r sca le .
• Wit h th e in cre a sing co n ce rn a mo ng th e me mbe rs of t he S CO a bo ut th e situ a t ion in
A fg ha n ist an , t he re is a g re at ch an ce f o r I sla mab ad to b eco me a f u ll me mb e r o f th e
o rga n iza t io n . Pa kist an ha s a lrea d y e sta b lishe d g oo d re lat io n s wit h Cen t ra l Asia n
Re pu b lics in th e E co no mic Co op e rat io n O rga n izat io n (E CO ) an d ha s o ff e red th e m
u se o f h e r se ap o rt s fo r t rad e an d co mme rce . P a kista n ca n pro vide t rad e fa cilit ie s
t o lan d lo cke d Ce nt ra l Asia n S ta te s at t he G wa da r po rt . Th is p o rt is mo re u se f u l
a nd a con ven ie n t po te n t ia l t rad e ro ut e f o r t he CA Rs. Fro m t he G wad a r po rt , go od s
can be t ran sp o rte d via la nd ro u te s t o A fg ha n ista n , Ta jikist an , Uzb e kista n , an d
Tu rkme n ista n a nd d ee pe r int o Ce nt ra l Asia . To ma ke th is po ssib le, ro a d an d
ra ilwa y ne t wo rks a re be ing la id to lin k G wa da r to A fg h an ist an an d I ra n . P la n s t o
o pe n ga te wa ys o n th e A fg ha n ista n a nd I ran bo rde rs a re a lso u nd e r con sid e ra t io n .
Wit h t he se a nd simila r de ve lo p men t s, B a lo ch ist an can se rve a s a t ran sit rou t e t o
n e ig hb o u ring co un t rie s of A fg ha n ista n a nd I ra n an d as a t ra de ga te wa y in to
Ce nt ra l A sia . Th e t ra de rou t e ca n b rin g a lot o f in ve st me n t t o Pa kista n . Ce n t ra l
A sian S ta te s a re re lyin g mo re u po n P a kista n fo r t rad e pu rpo se s.
• P a kista n can a lso u se t h is f o ru m t o ha ve go od re la t ion s wit h Ru ssia , wh ich h ave
n ot be en ve ry go od in t he p ast . I nd e ed , Ru ssia h as be en sa id t o sup p o rt
P a kista n 's me mbe rsh ip o n ly if I nd ia jo in s a t th e sa me t ime. G ive n t he d ispu t e s
b et we en t he t wo S ou t h A sia n n at io n s, th is sce na rio pa ra lle ls t he simu lt a ne ou s
e nt ry in to NA TO of G re e ce a nd Tu rke y.
• B y jo in in g th is o rg a n iza t io n, P akist an wo u ld h ave an ot he r f o ru m to exp re ss he r
vie ws on t he wo rld 's ch an g ing po lit ica l scen a rio . The p re sen t g o ve rn me nt of
P a kista n a t ta che s g rea t impo rt a n ce to S CO a nd e mp h a sise s P akist a n 's a ct ive ro le
in t he O rg an iza t ion . Wh ile ad d re ssin g t he 9 t h Sh an gh a i Co op e rat io n O rga n iza t io n ,
wh ich wa s a tt e nd ed by t he he ad s o f go ve rn me n t s an d sta t e s of S CO me mb e r
cou n t rie s in t he Ru ssian cit y of Ye kat e rin bu rg , P re sid en t Za rd a ri st re ssed th e
n ee d fo r a co mmo n f ra me wo rk t o en su re co o pe ra t ion in se cu rit y, e ne rg y an d
e co n o my. He d iscu sse d t he imp o rta n t issu e s in clu d ing t acklin g th e in t e rna t ion a l
f ina n cia l crisis, e xp a nd in g reg io na l co o pe ra t ion in po lit ica l, e co no mic a nd se cu rit y
a ff a irs, a dd re ssing th e t ra n sn a t ion a l ch a lle ng e s o f te rro rism an d n a rco t ics, an d
p rop o sed th e cre a t ion of spe cia l me cha n isms f o r P a kista n 's in vo lve men t in th ree
ke y a rea s o f S CO 's a ct ivit y in clud in g se cu rit y, e ne rg y a nd e co n o mic co op e rat io n .
He sa id : "P a kista n re ma in s co mmit t e d t o st ren gt h en in g ou r bo nd s o f f rien d sh ip
a nd coo p e rat io n wit h e ach S CO me mbe r sta t e, bila t e ra lly a nd in t he SCO
f ra me wo rk. Pa kista n st o od f irmly to he lp S CO an d t he S CO co mmu n it y of na t io n s
re a lize s th e ir co mmo n o bje ct ive s a nd fu lf ills th e ir co mmon d est in y. S u ch
me cha n ism o n e co n o mic co o pe ra t ion wou ld h elp Pa kist an bu ild t rad e an d
co mmu n icat io n co rrid o rs wit h in th e re g ion . "
 Wh ile a dd re ssing th e S CO Hea d of th e Co u n cil mee t ing in Sh an gh a i, th e f o rme r
P rime Min iste r o f Pa kista n , Y ou sa f Ra za G illa n i, p rop o se d a fo u r- pro ng ed st ra t eg y f o r
e xp a n sio n of th e SCO ad d ing 'Ta kista n ha s re ma in ed p a rt o f t h is o rg an iza t ion fo r f ou r
yea rs. We n ow wan t t o be a cco rd ed fu ll me mbe rsh ip o f it. Th is de ma nd o n ou r pa rt
d e mo n st rat e s t he f a ct th at Pa kista n is ea ge r to wo rk to ge t he r wit h ot he r na t ion s.
P a kista n wa n t s t o sh a re e co n o mic an d st ra te g ic ma tt e rs wit h me mbe r cou n t rie s of
S CO . " He ca lle d fo r th e fo rma t ion o f a ba nkin g a sso cia t io n a nd bu sine ss cou n cil o f t he
S CO an d sa id P a kista n co n side re d f re e t ra de a s t he on ly wa y to de a l with re g io n a l
f ina n cia l p rob le ms. He u rg ed th e me mbe r co u nt rie s of S CO t o pu rsue a jo in t visio n t o
a ch ie ve t he o b je ct ive s o f reg io na l pe ace a nd d eve lop me n t. A jo in t st ra te g y wa s
n ee de d to co un t e r ch a lle ng e s like t he g lo b a l econ o mic crisis, te rro rism, ext re mism,
a nd th re at s p osed t o e nviro n me nt . Hig h -le ve l me e t in g s a mo ng t he me mbe rs o f t he
S CO we re n ece ssa ry fo r t ha t p u rpo se. He men t ion e d t he g rea t sa crif ice s t he pe op le of
P a kista n h ad ren d e red f ig h t ing in te rn at io na l t e rro rism.
P a kista n 's me mbe rsh ip a s a n "O b se rve r" in t he S CO h as co n t ribu t ed to wa rd s
st re ng th e n in g it s re la t ion s wit h Ru ssia , Ch ina , Cen t ra l Asia a nd th e n e ig hb o rin g
cou n t rie s in a coo pe ra t ive f ra me wo rk. E ve n a t th is le ve l t he impa ct o f int e ra ct ion is
p ro ving be ne f icia l in th e f o llo wing wa ys.
SCO and Pak-Russian Relations
P a kista n 's e nt ry in t o Sh an g ha i Co o pe ra t ion O rg an iza t ion ha s h ad a po sit ive
imp a ct o n P a k-Ru ssian re la t ion s. Th e re is a sp irit of u nd e rsta nd in g a nd coo pe ra t ion
b et we en t he t wo co un t rie s t ha t is se e n in re ce n t de ve lop me nt s. Th e st ra in e d
re la t ion sh ip of t he pa st f ro m t he Co ld Wa r da ys t ha t wa s see n mo re p ro mine n t ly in
Ru ssia 's t ilt to wa rd s In d ia ha s u nd e rgo ne co n side ra b le ch an g e. S CO se e ms t o ha ve
p ro vide d a n o pp o rtu n it y f o r clo se r b ila te ra l re la t io n s. Th e e xch an g e of h igh le ve l visit s
h as ma de t he re la t io n s mo re mea n ing f u l an d p rod u ct ive a t re g ion a l an d g lob a l le ve ls.
B ot h co un t rie s d esire t o e sta b lish go od f rien d ly re la t io n s, d esp ite ma jo r a nd mino r
d if fe re n ce s an d irrit a nt s of t he p a st . I sla mab a d he lpe d Ru ssia in g et t ing an ob se rve r
st at u s at th e O rg an isa t ion o f I sla mic Con f e ren ce (OI C), an d, Mo sco w re cip ro cat ed b y
h e lp in g Pa kist an in ge tt in g simila r st at u s a t S CO . I n t he cha n g in g g lob a l e nviro n me nt ,
it is in P akist a n 's st rat eg ic in te re st t o ext en d it s p o lit ico - milit a ry ou t rea ch t o wa rd s
o th e r g lob a l p o we r cen t e rs, in clud in g Ru ssia , a nd wo rk jo int ly wit h th e S ino -Ru ssia n
st ra te g ic n e xu s. P akist a n 's act ive ro le in S CO h as b ro ug h t th e se co un t rie s clo se r with
t he p ro mise t o bo o st co op e ra t ion in e ne rg y, jo in t ve n tu re s in in f ra st ru ct u re
d eve lop me n t a nd in ve st me nt o pp o rtu n it ie s. Wo rkin g clo se ly in SCO will be he lpf u l in
f igh t in g t he g ro wing men a ce o f t e rro rism in t he reg io n .
Mo sco w ha s a lre a d y in d icat e d t o I sla mab a d t ha t it wa n t s it s g as co mpa n y,
G a zp ro m, th e wo rld 's la rg e st g as co mpa n y, t o h a ve a ro le in t he p ro je ct . Pa kista n ha s
con ve yed t ha t it wo u ld we lco me Ru ssian p a rt icipa t io n in th is p ro je ct . Ru ssia 's
re ad in e ss t o pa rt icip at e in t he e ne rg y p ro je ct s of Tu rkme n ista n , Af gh a n ista n , Pa kist an
a nd I nd ia a s we ll as Ce n t ra l A sia an d So ut h A sia 1 00 0 (CA SA ) is a lso sign if ica n t an d
h as b ee n we lco med b y Pa kista n as it fa ce s a n a cut e en e rg y d ef icit . Th e t wo cou n t rie s
a re a lso clo se t o f irmin g u p a MO U o n th e expa n sion an d mod e rn izat io n of th e
P a kista n St e e l Mills, a ke y sta te en te rp rise an d th ey ha ve a lso b ee n d iscu ssin g t he
p ossib ilit y of de ve lo p ing ra il lin ks wit h I ra n an d o th e r a re a s in t he S CO re g io n f ro m
P a kista n. Ru ssia ha d sho wn int e re st in P akist an 's kee n ne ss to d eve lop ra il lin ks to
Ce nt ra l A sia f ro m G wa da r. The co mmon t h re a t s o f te rro rism an d d rug s h ave also
co mpe lle d t he t wo cou n t rie s t o st re n gt h en se cu rit y coo pe ra t io n. Ru ssia n s h ave b ee n
con ce rn ed a bo ut d ru g t raf f ickin g a nd t he p re se n ce of a l Q ae d a e le me nt s an d th e
Ta lib an in th e bo rde r a re a s b et we en P a kista n a nd A fg ha n ista n . The gro win g p re se n ce
o f US a nd NA TO f o rce s in th e reg io n co mp e ls th e t wo co un t rie s t o coo pe ra t e mo re
clo se ly.
SCO and Pak-China Relations
 Ch in a is t he t ime -t e st ed f rie nd o f P akist a n. The "a ll we a th e r" b i-la t e ra l re la t ion sh ip
b et we en th e t wo cou nt rie s h a s a lwa ys be en un in te rru p te d an d t ru st -bo un d . I n t he p ast ,
t he ir st rat e g ic p a rt n e rsh ip wa s d rive n b y t he ir mut u a l n ee d to cou n te r th e g ro wing
in f lue n ce o f I nd ia wh ich is con sid e red t o b e a n ad ve rsa ry of bo th Ch ina a nd Pa kista n .
Ch in a ha s a lwa ys p ro ve d a g re a t sou rce o f st ren gt h a nd sup p o rt to Pa kista n in it s ho u r
o f ne ed . Ch ina p ro vid ed mo ra l, po lit ica l, milit a ry, f in a n cia l an d d ip lo ma t ic sup p o rt to
P a kista n a ga in st In d ia in t wo In do - Pa k wa rs of 19 65 an d 1 97 1 re sp e ct ive ly. The
f rie nd ly b ilat e ra l re la t ion s b et we en th e t wo co un t rie s ha ve be en a ff e cte d b y nu me rou s
g eo -st ra te g ic cha ng e s at th e re g ion a l an d g lob a l le ve ls, in clud in g imp ro ve me nt in
S ino - In d ia n re lat io n s sin ce 19 89 on wa rd s, t he co lla p se o f t he S ovie t Un io n , p o st 9 /1 1
d eve lop me n t s, espe cia lly wit h P akist a n be co ming a f ro nt lin e st at e in t he "wa r a ga in st
t e rro r. " In a dd it ion , t he co n clu sio n o f th e I nd o -US n ucle a r d ea l a nd t he fa ilu re o f
P a kista n to sig n a simila r d ea l with th e US ha s b rou g ht Pa kista n clo se r t o Ch ina . I n
t he p o st Co ld Wa r e ra, Ch in a b eca me t he mo st -imp o rt an t st ra te g ic pa rtn e r of P akist a n
vis- a -vis it s ad ve rsa ry I nd ia . Ch in a ha s o pe n ly su p po rt ed P akist a n 's n u cle a r
P rog ra mme a nd ha s be en an imp o rta n t sou rce o f sup p ly of mo de rn an d a dva n ce d
con ve nt io na l we ap o n s t o P a kista n . B e sid e s Ch in a ha s a b ig sha re in Pa kista n 's t ra d e
a nd in ve st men t .
P a kista n 's me mb e rsh ip in S CO h a s f u rth e r imp ro ved t h is re la t ion sh ip. Ch ina
p re fe rre d Pa kist an ove r I nd ia fo r p e rma n en t me mbe rsh ip in t he o rg a n iza t io n wh ich is
p e rt in e nt in as f a r a s I nd ia n so u rce s' vie w th at Ch in a wan t s t o en ga ge Pa kist an
milit a ry f o rce s in a co un t e r-t e rro rist exe rcise is co n ce rn e d. Un d e r t he b an ne r of S CO ,
t he g eo - po lit ica l imp e ra t ive s of P a kista n a nd Ch ina are con ve rg ing an d co mp at ib le in
re la t ion t o A fg ha n ista n a nd Ce nt ra l Asia . B ot h wa nt to saf e gu a rd th e ir int e re st s in
Ce nt ra l A sia . Th e f irst a nd t he f o re mo st st ra t eg ic ob je ct ive is to en su re t he st a b ilit y o f
t he Ch in e se no rth - we st e rn 3 ,5 00 km co mmon bo rde r wit h CA Rs. Wh ile t he ge o -
st ra te g ic ob je ct ive o f P a kista n is t o en su re th e se cu rit y of 2, 64 0 km no rt h -we ste rn
f ro nt ie r wit h Af gh a n ista n t o st op t he ea st wa rd a nd we st wa rd exp an sio n o f NA TO fo rce s
a nd to red u ce t he risin g inf lu en ce of In d ia in th e a f fa irs o f Af gh an ist an , Cen t ra l A sia,
a nd S ou th Asia . The re a re a mp le op po rt u n it ie s fo r jo in t ven t u re s, jo in t in ve st me n t,
jo in t b an kin g co op e rat io n , t ra n sp o rta t io n a nd co mmu n ica t ion a mo n g S CO me mbe rs.
Ch in a ra il mig h t on e d ay in te g ra te Af gh a n ista n , Ta jikist a n a nd Pa kist an wh ich will
g rea t ly bo ost t he ir t rad e a nd e co n o mic re la t ion s. I n ad d it io n , Ch ina 's p re fe re n ce fo r
e co n o mic in te g rat io n an d clo se co llab o ra t ion a mo n g A fg ha n ist an , Ta jikist a n , Ch in a
a nd Pa kist an b y lin kin g Ta jikist a n an d A fg ha n ista n to G wa d e r po rt is a con st ru ct ive
a nd po sit ive st ep t ha t will se rve th e ir int e re st s in t he lon g ru n . Nikla s No rlin g , an
e xp e rt on Ch in a an d Ce nt ra l A sia at th e Co n fe re n ce he ld in t he In st it ut e fo r S ecu rit y
a nd De ve lo p men t , S to ckh o lm, re ma rks th at "t he p rice ta g is t o le ra b le fo r a Ch in e se
st at e f irm b ecau se t he p ro je ct co n t ribu t e s a g re a t de a l o f Be ijin g 's p lan s fo r t he
d eve lop me n t o f We st e rn Ch in a an d it s reg io na l t ra de lin kag e s. "
SCO and Pak-Central Asian Relations
P a kista n h a s a clo se so cio - cu lt u ra l an d co mme rcia l a sso cia t ion wit h Cen t ra l Asia .
P a kista n wa s a mon g st t he f irst co un t rie s t o e xp re ss jo y an d e nt hu sia sm f o r
e sta b lish ing clo se r lin ks wit h Cen t ra l Asia n sta t e s af te r t he ir ind ep e nd en ce . Be sid e
t h is, Pa kist an an d th e Cen t ra l A sian Co u nt rie s a re th e me mbe rs of t he E con o mic
Co op e ra t io n O rg a n iza t io n (E CO ), t he wo rld 's se con d ran kin g e con o mic o rga n izat io n
a ft e r th e Eu rop e an Un io n (E U). Th e E co no mic Co op e ra t io n O rga n iza t io n 's f ra me wo rk
cre a te d in 1 98 5 (f o rme rly kn o wn a s t he Re g io n a l Co o pe ra t ion fo r De ve lop me nt )
co mp risin g P akist an , I ra n, an d Tu rke y) wa s e xp an de d a ft e r th e ad missio n o f six
Ce nt ra l A sian st at e s an d A fg ha n ista n in 1 99 2. Ho we ve r, t he civil wa r in Af g ha n ista n
a nd Pa kist an 's sup po rt f o r th e Ta lib an ad ve rse ly af fe ct ed Pa kist an 's re la t ion s wit h t he
Ce nt ra l A sian S ta t e s.
Th e 9 /1 1 at ta cks cha ng ed t he en t ire sce na rio . P akist a n n ot on ly a ba nd on ed it s
sup p o rt fo r th e Ta liba n b ut co nt rib u te d mu ch to elimin a t e th e Ta liba n 's ru le , a nd t o
d est ro y t he al Qa ed a ne t wo rk in A fg h an ist an . Th e ne w sit u at io n p ro vid e d Pa kist an a n
o pp o rtu n it y to imp ro ve re la t io n s wit h t he Cen t ra l A sian sta t e s. Mo re impo rt a nt ly,
P a kista n 's ult ima t e d e sire wa s t o e xp an d an d t o st re ng t he n re la t ion s wit h Cen t ra l
A sian cou n t rie s un de r th e ba nn e r of S CO .
Un de r S CO 's f ra me wo rk, P akist a n is kee n to use it s ge o -st ra t eg ic lo cat io n to se rve
a s a t rad e an d e ne rg y co rrid o r f o r th e we ste rn re g io n s of Ch ina , Af gh an ist a n, a nd
Ce nt ra l A sia . I n t h is reg a rd , so me of th e n ece ssa ry inf ra st ru ctu re ha s be en bu ilt , e. g. ,
t he G wad a r de ep se a po rt a nd up -g rad in g o f t he K a ra ko ra m High wa y. Ch in a ha s ag ree d
t o a id Pa kista n wit h $ 35 0 millio n to up g ra d e t he Ka ra ko ra m High wa y. Th e qu ad rila t e ra l
t ra de an d t ra n sit a g re e me nt b et wee n Pa kist an , Ch in a , K a za kh sta n, a nd Kyrg yzst an
h as a lso b ee n o pe ra t ion a l sin ce 2 00 4. It can a lso b e e xt e nd ed t o Uzb e kista n an d
Ta jikist a n. Pa kista n p ro vide s t he na tu ra l lin k be t wee n t he S CO sta t e s t o co nn e ct th e
E u ra sia n he a rt la nd wit h th e A ra b ia n Se a a nd So ut h -A sia . S CO ha s be en a con st ru ct ive
a nd u se f u l o rga n iza t io n in e xp a nd in g t rad e an d co mme rcia l re la t ion s with th e Cen t ra l
A sian co un t rie s. Th rou g h th e in f lu e n ce o f S CO me mbe rs, so me o f t he
misu n de rst an d ing s a nd co n fu sio n b et we en P akist an a nd Uzbe kist an we re re mo ve d.
Th e Uzb e k P re side n t , I sla m Ka rimo v, ma de h is f irst o f f icia l t rip t o P a kista n in Ma y
2 00 6. Du rin g h is visit , n in e ag ree me nt s we re sign ed o n t rad e an d e co no mic
coo p e rat io n, so cio -cu ltu ra l in te ra ct ion s, an d cou n te r- t e rro rism. Th is rap p ro ch e men t
b et we en Pa kist an a nd Uzb e kist an o ccu rre d p rima rily d ue to Ch ina 's sup po rt .
E con o mica lly, Uzbe kist an is in te re st ed in ga in in g acce ss to Pa kist an 's ma jo r po rt s in
K a ra ch i a nd G wa da r. B ut on e o f t he con f lict in g issu e s wh ich h as d istu rb ed th e
re la t ion s be t wee n th e t wo co un t rie s st ill re ma in s: t he spe ct e r of I sla mic rad ica ls who
f led Uzbe kist an an d so ug h t re fu ge in Pa kista n . Un t il 2 00 5, co n side ra b le f rict ion
e xiste d b et we en t he t wo co un t rie s d ue t o th e p re se n ce of I sla mist milit a n t s a sso cia t ed
wit h th e Isla mic Mo ve men t of Uzbe kist a n (I MU), wh ich h as it s ba se in t he t riba l a rea s
o f P a kista n .
I sla mab a d an d Ta sh ken t n o w sh a re co mmo n co n ce rn s an d op in ion s a bo u t th e
g lob a l wa r ag a in st te rro rism. Bo th h ave co nd e mn ed te rro rism in a ll it s f o rms a nd
ma n ife st at io n s. Bu t , do ub t s a nd misu n de rst an d ing be t we e n th e t wo co u nt rie s we re
re mo ved con sid e rab ly o n t he occa sion o f t he visit of I sla m Ka rimo v t o P akist a n, a nd ,
a s a re su lt , a n ag re e me n t o n co un t e r-t e rro rism wa s sign e d be t wee n P re sid e nt
Mu sha rra f a nd P re sid en t Isla m K a rimo v.
Th e p o rt o f G wa da r wh ich Pa kista n is de ve lo p ing wit h Ch in e se h e lp lie s on ly 2 50
mile s f ro m t he S t ra it s of Ho rmu z, a re g ion co n ta in ing 40 p e rce nt of t he wo rld 's o il
re se rve s. The p o rt is d esig ne d to se rve a s a n imp o rt an t reg io na l sh ipp in g h ub ,
p ro vid in g t he la nd lo cked Cen t ra l A sian rep ub lics, Af gh a n ista n, an d th e Ch ine se
X ing jia n re g ion e a sy acce ss t o th e A rab ia n Se a. "The co n st ru ct io n of ne w G wad a r
d ee p wa t e r ma rit ime po rt on Ba lo ch ist a n coa st an d it s con n e ct ed ro ut e s wit h
A fg ha n ist an re d u ce s t he dist an ce b y 50 0 km be t we en Pa kist an a nd Ce n t ra l A sia . A s a
re su lt , it will fa cilit a t e t he t ran sf e r of Cen t ra l Asia 's va st e ne rg y re so u rce s t o wo rld
ma rke t s, g a rn e rin g Pa kista n sign if ica nt p rof it s in t ra n sit fe e s.
Un de r th e a usp ice s of t he S CO , P a kista n 's re la t io n s wit h Ce nt ra l A sia we re
con sid e rab ly imp ro ved . The A lma t y- Ka ra ch i roa d via t he K a ra ko ra ms (A lma t y-B ish ke k-
K a sh ga r- I sla ma b ad - Ka ra ch i n et wo rk) is u nd e r co n st ru ct io n . I n a dd it io n, P akist a n 's
d ee p -wa te r po rt s will g re at ly en ha n ce th e CA Rs' a b ilit y t o sh ip p rod u ct s t o wo rld
ma rke t s. P a kista n pro vide s t he mo st con ve n ie n t mo d e rn ra il a s we ll as ro ad f acilit ie s
t o t he CA Rs. A co mpa ra t ive o ve rvie w of d ist a n ce s be t wee n Isla ma ba d an d K a ra ch i an d
t he ca p ita l cit ie s of Ce n t ra l A sia as we ll a s e xist in g S ovie t -e ra Ru ssian po rt f acilit ie s
illu st ra t e th is po int . Th e se po sit ive de ve lo p men t s t og e th e r wit h th e G wa da r p ro je ct
ma ke P akist an an in d isp e n sa b le lin k f o r S CO me mbe r sta t e s an d a pe rf e ct ca nd id at e
f o r fu ll me mb e rsh ip .
Conclusion
 S CO is e me rg in g a s a mu lt ila te ra l in te rn a t io n a l o rg an iza t ion f ocu sing o n p olit ica l,
e co n o mic, an d se cu rit y co op e rat io n a mo ng it s me mbe r st at e s an d wit h ot he r
n e ig hb o u ring co un t rie s of t he re g ion . The su cce ss o f S CO la rg e ly d ep en d s o n th e
re la t ion s b et we en Ch in a a nd Ru ssia a nd t o so me e xte n t th e US in vo lve me n t in t he
re g ion . If th e Ru ssia n -Ch ine se st ra t eg ic p a rtn e rsh ip con t in ue s to d eve lop , th e y will b e
a b le to con t a in th e inf lu en ce o f an y e xt ra -reg io na l po we r in Ce n t ra l A sia, So ut h A sia
a nd Af gh a n ista n.
Th e in clu sion o f P akist a n a nd th re e o th e r sta t e s a s "O b se rve rs" in S CO
d e mo n st rat e s a mu lt ila te ra l a nd p ra g ma t ic ap p ro a ch b y t he f ou nd in g me mb e rs an d h a s
e nh an ced S CO 's co lle ct ive st re ng t h . P a kista n 's en t ry in t o S CO wit h t he sta t u s of
"O b se rve r" will no t on ly he lp th e cou n t ry in st re ng t he n ing re lat io n s with t he me mbe r
st at e s, bu t a lso p ro vid e a ne w p la tf o rm fo r co o pe ra t ion wit h it s t ra d it ion a l f rie n d,
Ch in a. Me mb e rsh ip in t he o rga n izat io n will a lso h elp P a kista n cu lt iva t e be t te r re lat io n s
wit h Ru ssia. Con se qu en t ly, fo r I sla mab a d, wh ich h a s d ep en de d mo re o n t he We st,
e sp e cia lly th e US fo r eco no mic a nd milit a ry t ie s, th e me mbe rsh ip o f S CO will p re se nt
a n a lte rn a t ive sou rce t o co llab o ra te wit h . Th e S CO p ro vid e s a n a dd it ion a l f o ru m t o
P a kista n to de ve lo p un de rst a nd in g an d co o pe ra t ion wit h Ru ssia . B esid e s t h is, un de r
t he f ra me wo rk o f SCO , it is t he ir co mmo n int e re st t o pro mo te p ea ce a nd st a b ilit y in
S ou th A sia, A fg ha n ist an , an d Ce nt ra l A sia a nd con ta in a nd era d ica t e th e me na ce of
t e rro rism an d cre at e t ru st an d con f id en ce be t we en t he m f o r st ro ng e r a nd mo re
p rod u ct ive re lat io n sh ip in t he fu tu re . The S CO p ro ved a u sef u l p la tf o rm fo r bo th
cou n t rie s t o de ve lo p a d ee pe r un de rst an d ing o f ea ch ot he r, co rre ct in g misp e rcep t ion s,
re mo vin g misg ivin g s, an d de ve lo p ing re sp e ct fo r e a ch o th e r's le g it ima t e int e re st s in
t he reg io na l co nt e xt. S CO p ro vid e s a n o pp o rtu n it y to Pa kista n to exp an d it s d ef en se ,
e co n o mic, p o lit ica l an d se cu rit y re la t io n s wit h Ru ssia. S CO ha s fu rt h e r p ro vid e d an
o pp o rtu n it y t o Pa kist an t o imp ro ve re lat io n s wit h I nd ia . Wit h in S CO, Ru ssia ca n ut ilize
it s in f lu e n ce to d ef u se te n sion s in Pa k-I nd ia re la t io n s a s it d id at th e t ime of t he
Ta sh ke nt P act .
Un de r a ne w mu lt i-la t e ra l re g ion a l o rg a n iza t io n, P akist a n is a tt e mp t in g to crea t e a ne w
st ra te g ic f ra me wo rk, b eyon d me re milit a ry co o pe ra t ion , to e mb ra ce econ o mic
coo p e rat io n t o fu rt he r ce men t S in o -P ak f rie nd sh ip. Wh en t he G wa d a r po rt p ro je ct is
f u lly op e rat ive , Pa kista n will ha ve a lmo st e nsu re d a n "a ll- we at he r re la t ion sh ip " wit h
Ch in a wit h th e exte n sion o f t he Ka ra ko ra m High wa y se rving a s a symbo l o f t h is
f rie nd sh ip . Th e se in ve st me nt s wou ld p ro vid e Pa kist an t re me n do u s st ra t eg ic le ve ra g e
in th e re g ion vis- a -vis In d ia a nd th e US . Th e re ce n t S CO su mmit p ro ved a ha llma rk
e ve n t an d will ha ve lo ng la st in g imp lica t ion s. It ha s a lso set f o rth th e fu tu re co u rse of
a ct io n fo r t he o rg a n iza t io n a nd th e me mb e r cou nt rie s. P akist a n, in ke ep in g with t he
g eo p o lit ica l an d g eo -e co no mic rea son s, can no t ign o re t he se de ve lo p men t s.