LUCID MAINS CURRENT AFFAIRS 2018

2. SCO SUMMIT
BACKGROUND
• 18th summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation hosted by China in the
eastern city of Qingdao.
• India’s first SCO summit after it acquired full membership.
THE SHANGHAI COOPERATION ORGANISATION
• Permanent Intergovernmental organisation
• Members- China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan
and Uzbekistan
• Preceded by Shanghai Five mechanism
SCO’S CORE MANDATE
• To tackle 3 evils – terrorism, separatism and extremism
• Drug smuggling and cross border organisation

SCO - A DIPLOMATIC BOOST FOR INDIA

India can gain momentum in connectivity with Central Asian republics in three major
domains- Trade & energy and Security

TRADE & ENERGY

• Most of the Central Asian countries are landlocked making it difficult for India to
access the region
• Central Asia is the provider of 10% oil and energy to the world .An energy deficit
India stands to gain much from wider access to the Central Asian countries
• Central Asian countries are endowed with fossil fuels, natural gas , uranium
reserves and hydropower among many others

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• Pending projects like the TAPI (Turkmenistan –Afghanistan India Pipeline),
and CASA (Central Asia And South Asia power project ) to get a much needed
push.
• Potential market for India in terms of IT, telecom, banking and pharmaceutical
industries.
SECURITY
SCO’s permanent organ Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure
is expected to contribute through
• Intelligence sharing
• Law enforcement
• Developing best practices
• Mutual Legal assistance
• Extradition arrangement
• Capacity building
INDIA –RUSSIA CAMARADERIE
• A traditional ally, can help put Chinese interest in check and also balance power
in the region and organisation
• Mention of Pakistan-based terror outfits in BRICS Joint Declaration is a pointer
to Russian success in persuasion
SOFT POWER
• India can enhance its hard power capabilities by using soft power capabilities
- Sufi music, Yoga, bollywood, cuisine, architecture and democratic values

DIPLOMATIC CHALLENGES
China
• A veto wielding permanent member at UNSC - China ,has repeatedly blocked
India’s bid to designate Pakistan-based terrorist Masood Azhar under the Al
Qaeda Sanctions Committee

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 • India is the only country within SCO to not endorse Belt Road Initiative, which
passes through the Pakistan occupied Kashmir. India cites it as a violation
against its territorial integrity
PAKISTAN
• Pakistan share a historical and cultural links with Central Asia. Membership in
OIC has backed Pakistan on Kashmir issue and can lead more sympathy to
Pakistan on Kashmir issue
• Dispute on Kashmir
TWO BILATERAL AGREEMENTS (INDIA AND CHINA ) ON THE SIDELINES OF SCO SUMMIT
• Allow India to export non- Basmati Rice. China had earlier imposed a non- tariff
barrier (citing Phyto- sanitary norms)
• Hydrological Data on Brahmaputra - Post Doklam standoff, China had denied
access to hydrological data which is a crucial source with respect to flood in India

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