Table of Contents
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation
- The SCO setup in 2001 covers 40% of the global population, nearly 20% of the global GDP and 22% of the world’s land mass.
- The SCO has a strategically important role in Asia due to its geographical significance – this enables it to control the Central Asia and limit the American influence in region.
- SCO is generally seen as counterweight to the North NATO
Structure of SCO
The News
- In February 2021, a delegation from Pakistan had visited the SCO’s Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) which is headquartered in Tashkent.
- Pakistan delegation had presented its plans for “Pabbi-Antiterror-2021” to be held in Nowshera district of Pakistan’s Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.
- In March 2021, at the end of the 36th meeting of the Council of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) that took place in Tashkent announcement of “Pabbi-Antiterror-2021” was made.
- Pabbi antiterror exercise will take place in Oct 2021.
Is India participating in exercise?
No..!!
- India will not participate in the exercises but sources have indicated that India will send a three-member team to Pakistan for an anti-terror exercise as “OBSERVERS”.
- No representatives from the Indian armed forces will participate in Pabbi exercise. A three-member team from the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) could be sent.
- Discussions are also on about whether a team should be sent from India or if representatives from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad can participate in the process.
What’s the use of being observer?
- As an observer, India can take part in public meetings without the right to vote, gain access to documents and decisions besides also getting to watch and monitor the drills being conducted.
- According to the SCO, the observer status shall give no right to take part in the preparation and signing of the documents of the organization.
Why Indian Participation is important?
- After 2018, India and Pakistan will come together for a sort joint military exercise (India being observer though) under the umbrella of the SCO.
- In August 2020 India had withdrew from the SCO military exercise Kavkaz-2020.
- This will be first time since Galwan clashes in 2020 that India & China will also see face to face.
Why even Participate?
Why even Participate?
- The Indian government believes that India’s participation is a sign of the importance that it attaches to the bloc in maintaining security in the Central Asian region.
- India has said that it doesn’t in anyway dilute India’s stand on Pakistan as promoter of cross-border terrorism.
- Moreover, the purpose of Pabbi exercise is to identify and suppress channels of terror financing and Counter terror intelligence and it doesn’t involve participation of troops. As an “observer” India can understand “about counterterrorism measures” that the SCO is planning to lay out.
- Also, the situation developing in Afghanistan warrants that India cannot be a bystander. SCO provided a good platform for regional cooperation.
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