Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)
Prelims:
International
Relations
Mains:
GS Paper II –
Regional and Global Groupings, International Relations, GS Paper III –
Regional Security and Connectivity
Current relevance:
The
26th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai
Cooperation Organisation (SCO) was held in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic, 2026.
Highlights:
1.
SCO’s Roadmap for
the Next 25 Years:
i.
Leaders
reviewed the SCO’s progress and discussed strengthening its role in promoting peace,
security, stability and prosperity across the region.
ii.
India
called for a roadmap for the next 25 years of the SCO, building on its
established tradition of dialogue and cooperation.
iii.
India
identified Security, Connectivity and Opportunity as the three key
pillars for achieving concrete outcomes within the SCO framework.
iv.
It
reaffirmed its commitment to working with SCO members towards shared
progress and prosperity.
2.
Regional Security
and Counter-Terrorism:
i.
India
described terrorism as a grave threat to humanity and called for
coordinated efforts to dismantle the terror ecosystem.
ii.
It
emphasised that there should be no double standards in combating
terrorism.
iii.
India
reiterated that conflicts cannot be resolved on the battlefield,
stressing dialogue and diplomacy as the appropriate path towards
resolution.
iv.
It
highlighted the close relationship between Eurasian security and peace and
stability in Afghanistan.
v.
India
also highlighted its development and humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan.
3.
Connectivity and New
Areas of Cooperation:
i.
India
advocated strong and trusted connectivity initiatives that can connect
markets, expand trade and create new development opportunities.
ii.
It
emphasised that connectivity initiatives must respect the sovereignty and
territorial integrity of nations.
iii.
Technology,
entrepreneurship, innovation and start-ups were identified as important avenues for expanding
cooperation among SCO countries.
iv.
India
also emphasised people-to-people engagement, while appreciating the
focus on youth engagement under Kyrgyzstan’s presidency.
4.
Bishkek Declaration
and India-led Initiatives:
i.
The
Summit adopted the Bishkek Declaration, along with four MoUs and more
than twenty decisions and statements.
ii.
The
outcomes covered areas such as climate, nuclear safety, energy conservation
and combating drug addiction.
iii.
India-led
and supported initiatives included English in the SCO Charter as the
Official Language, Civilisation Dialogue Forum, Young Scientist Forum and Young
Author’s Conclave.
iv.
India
will host the first SCO Civilisation Dialogue Forum later in 2026, its
flagship initiative aimed at promoting civilisational exchanges among member
states.
v.
These
initiatives broaden SCO cooperation into areas such as science, youth
engagement, culture and people-to-people exchanges, alongside its security
and economic agenda.
5.
About Shanghai
Cooperation Organisation (SCO):
i.
The
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a permanent
intergovernmental international organisation.
ii.
It
was established on 15 June 2001 in Shanghai, China, by Kazakhstan,
China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
iii.
The
SCO evolved from the “Shanghai Five”, comprising Kazakhstan, China,
Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan. Uzbekistan joined the framework in 2001.
iv.
India
and Pakistan became
full members in 2017, while Belarus joined as a member in 2024.
v.
The
SCO seeks to strengthen mutual trust, friendship and good-neighbourliness,
maintain regional peace, security and stability, address emerging
threats, and promote cooperation in economic, social and cultural fields.
Source: PIB- https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseDetail.aspx?PRID=2305735®=3&lang=1