Strengthening India-Pakistan Relations and SCO | 17 Oct 2024

Source: TH

Why in News?

Recently, India’s External Affairs Minister had an informal interaction with Pakistan’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister during the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting in Islamabad, Pakistan. 

• The atmosphere of exchanges has been said to be more positive than in previous encounters. 
• The Shanghai cooperation organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Governments is the second-highest council after the SCO Council of Heads of States. 

What were the Positive Developments Between India and Pakistan at the SCO Summit? 

• Avoidance of Contentious Language: Both India and Pakistan avoided using contentious language in their national statements. 
  • There were no direct references to sensitive issues like Kashmir from Pakistan while India avoided specific references to Pakistan while addressing cross-border terrorism. 
• Productive Meeting: India commended the Pakistani leadership for organising a productive SCO meeting, signalling a positive tone in his departure remarks. 
• Collaboration on Regional Issues: Topics like trade, connectivity, energy flows, and cooperation against terrorism, separatism, and extremism were discussed, with an emphasis on collaboration rather than confrontation. 
  • TAPI (Turkmenistan-Pakistan-Afghanistan-India) energy pipeline and other issues were discussed with some SCO members.  
• Initiatives for Economic Cooperation: The summit resulted in proposals for an Economic Dialogue Programme and strategies to enhance economic cooperation. 
  • The joint statement emphasised cooperation in areas like green development, digital economy, trade, poverty alleviation, and renewable energy. 

Why are Positive Developments Significant? 

• Revocation of Article 370 (2019): India’s decision to revoke the special status of Jammu and Kashmir (Article 370) in August 2019 strained already fragile relations.  
  • Pakistan views this as an illegal annexation, while India considers it an internal matter.  
• Downgrade in Bilateral Relations: On 7th August 2019, Pakistan unilaterally downgraded diplomatic relations with India to the chargé d'affaires level and expelled the Indian High Commissioner, in response to India's revocation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. 
• Indus Waters Treaty: Disputes over the Kishanganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects, in particular, have raised tensions, with Pakistan alleging that India is violating the treaty. 
  • India has formally requested a review and modification of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan which has not gone well with Pakistan. 
• Limited Trade: After the Pulwama attack in 2019, India revoked Pakistan’s Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status, and Pakistan suspended bilateral trade.  
  • Revocation of Article 370 led to a halt in bilateral trade. In 2018-19, trade amounted to USD 2.06 billion of exports and USD 0.495 billion of imports. 
• Internal Interference: Pakistan has accused India of fomenting unrest in its Balochistan province and supporting separatist movements there.  
  • India accuses Pakistan of radicalising Kashmiri youth and internationalising Kashmir issue. 

How can Multilateral Forums Improve India-Pakistan Relations? 

• Neutral Platforms for Dialogue: Multilateral settings like the SCO provide neutral environments for India and Pakistan to engage without the bilateral tensions that usually impede dialogue. 
  • These forums allow informal conversations and track-two diplomacy (unofficial, non-governmental discussions) which can ease tensions and keep lines of communication open. 
• Regional Cooperation: Through SAARC, both nations have previously collaborated on regional trade agreements. 
  • The potential for cooperation in areas like climate change, disaster management, and public health remains high. 
• Security Concerns: Both India and Pakistan are part of the SCO’s Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS), which aims to promote cooperation on combating terrorism, separatism, and extremism.  
  • This offers a framework where both countries can work together on common security threats, even if their bilateral relations are strained. 
• Reducing Mistrust: UN General Assembly and other international forums involve the participation of several countries, which can act as mediators for constructive dialogue. 
  • Multilateral diplomacy can ease tensions, as witnessed in the Kargil conflict in 1999, where international pressure played a role in de-escalating the situation. 
• Economic Exchanges: Projects like the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) Pipeline and Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) pipeline of mutual benefit can foster cooperation even between adversaries. 

What are the Key Facts About SCO? 

• About SCO: It is a permanent intergovernmental international organisation founded on 15th June 2001, in Shanghai, China. 
• Establishment: It was established by six founding countries namely Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, evolving from the Shanghai Five mechanism. 
• Objectives of the SCO: It aims to strengthen mutual trust among member states, enhance cooperation in various fields, ensure regional peace and stability, and promote a fair international political and economic order. 
• Principles of SCO: The SCO adheres to the Shanghai spirit, characterised by mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for cultural diversity, and the pursuit of common development. 
• Decision-Making Bodies: The SCO's supreme decision-making body is the Council of Heads of States (CHS), which meets annually to address key organisational issues.  
  • The Council of Heads of Government (CHG) convenes yearly to discuss cooperation strategies, prioritise areas, and approve the budget. 
• Standing Bodies: The SCO has two permanent bodies. 
  • The Secretariat is located in Beijing, responsible for the organisation's day-to-day operations. 
  • The Executive Committee of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) in Tashkent, which focuses on regional security and counter-terrorism efforts. 
• Current Membership: SCO has 10 full members namely China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India, Pakistan, Iran (2023) and Belarus (2024). 

• SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group: In 2005, the SCO formed the SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group to address security and stability concerns in Afghanistan, demonstrating its commitment to regional security issues. 
• Official Languages: The official languages of the SCO are Russian and Chinese, facilitating communication among member states. 
• Partnerships and Collaborations: The SCO has developed partnerships with various organisations, including the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), and multiple United Nations agencies. 

Conclusion 

The recent informal interactions between India and Pakistan at the SCO meeting, characterised by positive developments and constructive dialogue, highlight the potential of multilateral forums to foster cooperation. By prioritising regional collaboration and addressing common challenges, these platforms can pave the way for improved bilateral relations and stability.