“Jaishankar’s SCO Visit in Pakistan: Diplomatic Tensions, China’s Influence, and Political Drama Unfold”

About Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)

SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation) Summit host for this year is Pakistan. Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a permanent intergovernmental international organization, comprising 9 Member States, namely the Republic of India, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the People’s Republic of China, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Tajikistan, and the Republic of Uzbekistan. It comprises Pakistan, China, India, Russia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Belarus – with 16 more countries affiliated as observers or “dialogue partners”. Iran joined the group in July 2023, and Belarus in July 2024. Several countries are engaged as observers or dialogue partners. The SCO is governed by the Heads of State Council (HSC), its supreme decision-making body, which meets once a year. The organization also contains the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS).
Russia and China are considered to be the most powerful stakeholders in the organization. Both have their geopolitical interest that they are pursuing which are focused more on security threats than economic deals within the forum.

The main objectives of the SCO are:

(i) Strengthen relations among member states;

(ii) Promote cooperation in political affairs, economics, and trade, scientific-technical, cultural, and educational spheres as well as in energy, transportation, tourism, and environmental protection;

(iv) safeguard regional peace, security, and stability; and

(v) create a democratic, equitable international political and economic order.

With assistance from the Asian Development Bank and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, SCO members have developed an intergovernmental agreement on facilitating international road transport.

On 24 June 2016, India and Pakistan signed the memorandum of obligations at Tashkent, thereby starting the formal process of joining the SCO as full members. On 9 June 2017, India and Pakistan became full members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

SCO having a summit on 15 Oct 2024 and 16 Oct 2024 in Islamabad, Pakistan, and India is Taking part in this summit, India’s External Affairs minister Mr. S Jaishankar is representing India, it is the first visit of the Indian minister in Pakistan after 2015 first in a 9 year’s. Mr. S Jaishankar had cleared through his X Post that there focuses on Importing Terrorism, Comparing Pakistan’s GDP, etc.

SCO needs to be able and adept at responding to challenges facing us in a turbulent world. In this context, highlighted that:

i) SCO’s primary goal of combatting terrorism, separatism, and extremism is even more crucial in current times. It requires honest conversation, trust, good neighborliness, and reaffirming commitment to the SCO Charter. SCO needs to be firm and uncompromising in countering the ‘three evils’.

ii) Globalization and rebalancing are current-day realities. There’s a need for SCO countries to take this forward.

iii) Cooperation must be based on mutual respect and sovereign equality, recognize territorial integrity and sovereignty, and be built on genuine partnerships, not unilateral agendas. SCO cannot progress if we cherry-pick global practices, especially in trade and transit.

iv) Industrial cooperation can enhance competitiveness and expand labor markets. MSME collaboration, collaborative connectivity, environmental protection, and climate action are possible avenues. Whether it is health, food, or energy security, we are clearly better off working together.

v) Indian initiatives and endeavors like DPI, women-led development, ISA, CDRI, Mission LiFE, GBA, Yoga, Millets, International Big Cat Alliance etc. hold strong relevance for the SCO.

Vi) SCO should lead advocating that global institutions need to keep pace through reformed multilateralism to make the UNSC more representative, inclusive, transparent, efficient, effective, democratic, and accountable.

To renew our resolve to attain the objectives of the SCO, we must keep in mind the mutuality of interests and abide by the do’s and don’ts of the Charter.

Diplomatic ties between India and Pakistan remain strained, even though India maintains a diplomatic mission in Islamabad. Following the revocation of Article 370 in 2019, Pakistan expelled India’s last High Commissioner. Since then, the Indian mission has been led by a Deputy High Commissioner, symbolizing a fractured relationship.

In this tense environment, the visit of Indian Foreign Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar to Pakistan for the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) Summit has garnered significant attention. Even before his arrival, the political landscape in Pakistan was already buzzing. The opposition party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), had planned a major protest to highlight the plight of their jailed leader, former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who has been behind bars since last August.

The timing was perfect for PTI to make headlines, with international media covering the SCO summit. But a misstep by one of their leaders, inviting Jaishankar to the protest, backfired. The government pounced on this blunder, pressuring PTI to delay the protest in exchange for minor concessions. In the end, Jaishankar’s presence indirectly influenced Pakistan’s internal politics, without even holding a bilateral meeting.

As of now, Jaishankar’s visit remains strictly limited to the SCO summit, with no bilateral discussions planned between India and Pakistan. India maintains its position that talks will not resume until Pakistan takes concrete steps to stop promoting terrorism – a stance that is unlikely to change anytime soon.

Meanwhile, Pakistan is busy hosting China’s Premier Li Qiang, who was warmly welcomed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The red carpet was rolled out as Chinese and Pakistani flags fluttered side by side. China’s influence in Pakistan was on full display as Premier Li virtually inaugurated the new Gwadar International Airport, a project funded and built by China. Pakistan’s gratitude was clear, with Sharif publicly thanking Chinese President Xi Jinping for the “generous gift.”

Behind the scenes, however, it’s not all about diplomacy and goodwill. Pakistan’s leadership, particularly its army chief General Asim Munir, is likely angling for more financial assistance from China, while China enjoys the diplomatic spotlight and continues to shape the SCO into a platform for its own interests, including forming an anti-West bloc.

For India, the focus remains on regional cooperation and combating terrorism, but given Pakistan’s priorities, it’s unlikely the summit will yield any breakthroughs. As the drama unfolds over the next two days, all eyes will be on how the geopolitical dynamics play out between these key players in the region.