By joining together with the huge population of India, whose economy is growing steadily, combined with the giant geopolitical and strategic power of Russia and the economic scope of China, makes the SCO one of the most influential regional blocs capable of counterbalancing any such kind of organization in the region and around the globe as well.įrankly, India’s relation with Russia relatively is good likewise China’s with Pakistan. Russia is more of a political and military-strategic role, as the geographical position of Russia is equally important in this regard. Also from the perspective of demography, China is the leading member state. China is the wealthy and most rapidly developing country of the SCO, capable of competing with the West in the economic sphere. China’s role is more in the field of economy and finance rather than military-strategic power. In this regard, to bring both India and Pakistan into the SCO is strategically vital for the Organization in achieving its goals in the Eurasian realm.īoth China and Russia are the main drivers of the SCO. It can ease the fight with terrorist and extremist groups in Afghanistan and provide stability at the regional level. And equally Pakistan’s significance is bound to the security issues of the region in general and Afghanistan in particular. massive economy inclusion of which creates meaningful opportunities for China as well as other regional economies. India is one of the regional powers with estimated population of 1.3 bl. According to Asian Development Bank (ADB) in 2017-18 India’s growth rate in the next fiscal will reach 7.4 -7.6%, staying ahead of China.

India and Pakistan both are strategically important actors in the region. Obviously, the entry of India and Pakistan into the SCO certainly turns this organization into a full-fledged and powerful Eurasian League. Besides it increases number of nuclear-weapon states from two to four which bring a significant change in the balance and prestige of the organization.

SCO includes 8 member-states, four observer-states and six dialogue-partner states, altogether with the population of 3 bl., that is, closer to half the world’s population and nearly 20% of the world’s GDP. The inclusion of these two states has not only add the number of the members from six to eight states and geographical expansion of two continents (Eurasia) and three oceans (Indian, Pacific and Arctic Oceans) but also has given all of the members equally new economic opportunities. to the maintenance of regional peace, security and stability.ĭuring the Astana summit on June 8-9th, for the first time since its formation the Shanghai Cooperation Organization officially extended full membership to India and Pakistan. The main goals of the SCO range from promoting good neighborly relations and mutual cooperation in spheres of economy, education, energy etc. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) started in 2012 as a multiple organization of its original member-states such as China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.

Russian khaba