Following a long two-year process, India and Pakistan finally became full members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. A China-dominated security grouping seen as a counterweight to NATO, India's membership was pushed by Russia, while Pak's entry found steady backing from China. As a member, India is now expected to have a bigger say in launching concerted action in dealing with issues like terrorism, security, and defence.
Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev, current chair of the SCO said, “India and Pakistan are now members of the SCO. It is a very important moment for us,” as he made the announcement at the summit of the grouping. The group was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the Presidents of Russia, China, Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. It got the ball rolling to make India a member of the bloc way back in 2015, during its summit in Ulfa, when administrative hurdles were cleared to grant membership to India and Pakistan. India has been vying to make the group, and feels that as an SCO member, it will be able to play a major role in addressing the looming threat of terrorism in the region.
Representing the nation at the annual meet of the SCO, Prime Minister Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping and thanked him for China's support. The first Modi-Xi meeting this year, Modi said, “I got the opportunity to meet you again during the SCO summit. I am grateful to you for your efforts and support for India's SCO membership.” The meet came after India's boycott of the OBOR conference attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
India and China have maintained cold vibes between them, with the latter being open about its stand to block India's admission into the 48-member Nuclear Suppliers Group, and stalling India's move to list JeM chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist by the UN.
Modi also met with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and discussed ways to boost India-Uzbekistan relations, especially economic cooperation. The highlight of his meets was his exchanging pleasantries with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at a cultural gala, as both the countries remain tied in deadlocked talks and escalation of hostilities along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir. This was the leaders' first meet after 2015, when Modi made a surprise stopover in Lahore.
