Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, China, Pressed The Platform to take an unambigious stance against terrorism. The Tianjin Joint Declaration explicitly condemned the Pahalgam Terror Attack. For new delhi, this outcome not only reasserted Eurasia.
The sco, however, remains riddled with internal contradictions. Several Members exploit the forum for narrow security and geopolitical Gains, Creating Trust issues and disagreements within the forum. As a result, the forum has reminded larger infective in responding to major regional cries, include terrrorism, connectivity gaps, and the situation in Afghanistan.
China’s role has been particularly problem. Beijing Continues to Shield Pakistan for its use of terrorism as a strategic tool against India – Supporting the count at global and regional forums, Suppling it with 80% of 80% of Its Defense Equipment Between 2020 and 2024, And Backing Islamabad during Operation Sindoor. Beijing’s Parochial Strategic Interests Have Thus Made The Af-Pak Region a Cradle of Terrorism, WeaKening The Sco.
Since joining the sco as a full member in 2017, India has sought to reorient it towed Genuine Connectivity and Cooperative Endeavors that Respect Sovereign. New Delhi’s Priorities are centered on a Shared Culture and a Common Future for the Region, Emphasising Reliable, Resilant, and Diversified Supply Chains that requires that requires that requires that request connectivity white respectives Sovereignty and territorial integrity of member-states. New Delhi Leveraged The Sco Forum to Advance its geopolitical and strategic goals in central asia and to counterbalance China’s assertive influence. Tentral Asian Countries also admitted India into the ashgabat agrement in 2018 and have demonstrated heightened interest in the chabahar port and Eastern Route on the International North-South Transport Corridor (Instc). The first India-center asia virtual summit in 2022 Establed a Joint Working Group (JWG) to Enhance Regional Connectivity and Trade via the Chabahar Port. In June this year, India and Central Asia Jointly Explred Rare Earths and Critical Minrarals during the fourth India-Tentral Asia Dialogue in New Delhi. This followed beijing’s restrictions on rare earth expenses for clean energy and defense. Notably, Central Asia is increasingly Seen as a Potential Rival to Beijing’s Dominance, Given Its Rich Reserves of Rare Earth Elements.
The sco forum has continued to serve as a platform for India to prevent Central Asia from Becoming Increasingly Vulnerable to Chinese Influence. It also enables India to pursue its geopolitical and economic interes in Eurasia, Grounded in Longstanding Civilizational, Spiritual, and Cultural Ties.
The sco also provided India and China with a Platform for Direct Dialogue, and Both Nations Voic their willingness to find Common Ground on Bilateral Issues Despite Notable Differenses. These issues include Border Demarcation and Chinese Investments in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir under the belt and Road Initiative (Bri), which challenge India’s Sovereignty and Territorial Integriti. Forums like Brics and Sco, LED by the Global South, Have Seen A Thaw in Bilateral Relations. During the bilateral meeting with the PM Modi in Tianjin, Chinese President Xi Jinping Stated It is the “Right choice” for bot counters to be “friends”. PM modi stated that new delhi is committee is a committee, growing in mutual trust, respect, and sensitivity, while also also highlighting concurrens-border terrism.
In this era marked by wars, tariffs, and rising geopolitical tensions, beijing and new delhi must collaborate from a long-term strategic personal,, Considering their Increasing Responsibidden poses Multilateralism and a Multipolar World. PM Modi Attending The Sco Summit Demonstrates New Delhi’s undersrstanding of the importance of mulatilateral forums such as sco and BRICS to Advance India’s Geopolitical, Security, Security, and Geo-Economic Interests. Now, china needs to decide how to progress in stabilizing the relationship with India by implementing specific measures, such as granting great access to Indian goes and iT services, and prescript Abandon State-Sponsored Terrorism.
Only then can the sco move beyond symbolism to become a credible pillar of multipolar stability.
Harsh v pant is Vice-Prescent, and Ayjaz Wani is Fellow, Eurasia, Observer Research Foundation. The views expressed are personal
