Islamabad hosts SCO summit and strives for future stability

(Islamabad) 23rd meeting of the Council of Heads of Government (CIS) Shanghai The Cooperation Organization (SCO) concluded its work on Wednesday in Islamabad, reaffirming the commitment of member states to expand regional cooperation.

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Founded in 2001 by China and Russia, SCO membership has since expanded to include Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, PakistanIndia and Iran. The SCO, which includes China and India, represents about 40% of the world’s population.

Another notable aspect of the SCO is its inclusion of the world’s four nuclear powers: China, Russia, Pakistan and India.

Building a stable future

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired the CHG meeting during the conference and called on member states to work together, emphasizing “the need for increased ties, poverty reducing emissions, climate action and business collaboration for regional prosperity.”

He advocated “expanding projects such as the Belt and Road Initiative to boost trade and infrastructure” and called for “collective efforts to address poverty and climate issues, highlighting Pakistan’s vulnerability to climate disasters.”

Displaced people walk along a flooded highway after rains and floods during the monsoon season in Sehwan, Pakistan, September 16, 2022. (Photo: REUTERS/AKHTAR SOOMRO)

Sharif also emphasized the importance of reforming global financial systems and supported the use of mutual currencies within the SCO.

Congratulating Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin on assuming the rotating chairmanship in 2025 and assuring him of Pakistan’s full support, Sharif announced that the next SCO meeting will be held in Russia in 2025.

In addition to the Russian Prime Minister, other world leaders were present at the summit: the Prime Minister of China, the prime ministers of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, as well as the Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan, and the Minister of Industry of Iran. , Mines and Trade, and the Indian Foreign Secretary.

The heads of government of the SCO member countries signed the documents of the Joint Declaration of the meeting, which contain decisions aimed at enhancing regional economic and trade cooperation. The documents also ensure the effective functioning of the permanent institutions of the SCO.

According to the Joint Declaration, the SCO member states “stand for the right of peoples to independently and democratically determine their political, social and economic development.”

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The delegates “reaffirmed their commitment to the peaceful resolution of differences and disputes through dialogue and consultation.”

In addition, the delegates expressed their intention to promote the UN General Assembly resolution in connection with the SCO initiative “On World Unity for a Just Peace, Harmony and Development.”

On the sidelines of the SCO conference, the heads of delegations held separate meetings with Sharif and the Chief of Staff of the Pakistani Army, General Syed Asim Munir. During these discussions, they focused on the regional security situation and counter-terrorism strategies.

Ahead of the conference, there was widespread expectation among analysts of significant progress on several fronts, including the Iran-Israel conflict, the Russia-Ukraine war and, in particular, the restoration of ties between Pakistan and India.

However, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, a spokeswoman for Pakistan’s foreign ministry, clarified that dialogues at the SCO summit were not about politics, but instead revolved around regional ties, economic issues, trade and environmental issues.

She noted that “the conference agenda avoided politics, emphasizing a commitment to developing economic cooperation.”

Media Line spoke to various experts on various aspects of the SCO conference.

Syed Qandeel Abbas, an Islamabad-based political scientist and professor at the School of Political and International Relations (SPIR) at Quaid-e-Azam University, told The Media Line: “The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has the potential to create new strategies for resolving conflicts both globally and on a regional scale, especially as the balance of power slowly shifts from Western dominance to Eastern dominance.”

He further said that “if member countries prioritize improving their economic conditions over military spending, this could lead to a more positive and stable regional outlook. An alliance of the world’s four nuclear powers within the SCO could pose a challenge to the existing Western-dominated world order.”

Stressing “growing global frustration”, Abbas noted the failure of the UN and the Security Council to achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. “In this context, the SCO could play a significant role,” he said.

Abbas emphasized “the complexity of the current global dynamics, with China, Russia and Iran actively working to challenge the existing world order, while the US, Israel and their allies stand on the opposite side.” China and Russia support Iran’s position in this changing geopolitical landscape.”

Noting that “China and Russia have not recognized the economic sanctions imposed by the United States and Western countries while continuing trade relations with Iran,” Abbas said economic cooperation being discussed among the SCO countries could potentially lessen the impact of US sanctions.

Moreover, Abbas noted that while the US and its Western allies are trying to isolate Russia, Moscow is using platforms such as the SCO to build alliances and strengthen regional ties, counteracting its diplomatic isolation.

He added that “The SCO also provides a valuable opportunity for member states like Pakistan and India to improve their relations through diplomatic engagement.”

Meanwhile, Nooreen Akhter, policy consultant at the Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI), told The Media Line: “Despite the lack of a political agenda at the SCO summit, “the focus on economic cooperation suggests a strategic pivot among member states to expand trade, infrastructure development and investment opportunities, contributing to stability and growth in the region.”

“This pragmatic approach underscored the SCO’s ability to adapt its focus from political to economic issues, effectively responding to the evolving dynamics of international relations in a multipolar world,” she added.

“The meeting could change approaches to cooperation, adapting to a multipolar world led by non-Western alliances.” Akhter also noted that “the summit was a great opportunity for Pakistan to demonstrate its activity on the world stage and its importance in the region.”

“The SCO meeting demonstrated Pakistan’s ability to organize summits and demonstrated its intention to make a positive contribution to the peace efforts of the SCO and the spirit of integration of its member countries for sustainable development,” she added.

Amrita Saha, a regional defense and security analyst based in Kanpur, India, told The Media Line: “The SCO should be used as a platform to reach a peaceful solution, especially since it has been more than a year since the October 7 Hamas-Israel conflict.”

She emphasized that “the SCO should serve as a platform for joint efforts to combat regional terrorism, especially given the rise of the Taliban and other groups in Afghanistan, which poses a threat to all countries in the region.”

According to Saha, “Russia has a significant role to play in facilitating efforts that could facilitate negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, with NATO acting as a mediator rather than escalating the conflict.”

She emphasized that, together with such key members as Russia, China, India, Pakistan and the Central Asian states, the SCO has the potential for cooperation for the sake of stability in the region.

“The global order must move away from the US-Russia-China axis as numerous conflicts have escalated into proxy wars affecting various regions,” Saha said.

She stressed that “the emphasis must be on countering terrorism and radicalization while promoting international cooperation.”

Azim Khalid, PhD and Associate Professor, Department of International Relations, COMSATS University, Islamabad, told The Media Line: “The effectiveness of the coalition in achieving its goals and objectives is still a matter of debate. However, there is a positive outlook on the existence of the alliance.”

He noted that “the countries that emerged from the Soviet Union were weak in various aspects and needed support. The creation of this organization has encouraged these countries to recognize that continued cooperation can lead to improvements and reductions in external influences.”

According to Khalid: “Although the SCO is not a platform specifically designed to resolve bilateral disputes, it does offer an opportunity for leaders to come together and discuss common issues. The meeting in Islamabad primarily served as an opportunity for such discussions.”

Pakistan hosted the SCO summit amid a wave of opposition protests and a series of terrorist attacks, including recent attacks on Chinese citizens.

Tight security measures were put in place ahead of and during the SCO summit in Islamabad and its garrison sister city Rawalpindi, with major highways completely closed to traffic.

The Pakistan Army’s Rapid Action Force had been deployed in the federal capital a week earlier.