General Studies-2; Topic: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
Introduction
- The 26th Council of Heads of State summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, marked a defining moment in Eurasian geopolitics.
- Bringing together leaders of 10 member states—including India, China, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, and Central Asian republics—the summit highlighted the bloc’s transition from a border-demarcation pact into a major platform for non-Western multilateralism.
- The resulting Bishkek Declaration illustrates how member nations project consensus on systemic issues—such as counter-terrorism, sovereignty, and connectivity—while actively managing sharp internal divergences.
About The Bishkek Declaration and the Shifting Eurasian Order
- The Bishkek Declaration signals Eurasia’s push toward a multipolar order, projecting non-Western consensus against unilateral sanctions, advancing de-dollarised trade and regional connectivity, while challenging India to balance continental security with strategic autonomy.
Genesis, Mandate, and Structural Evolution
- From Demilitarisation to Multilateralism: Founded in 1996 as the “Shanghai Five” to manage post-Soviet border disputes, the group became the SCO in 2001 with Uzbekistan’s induction.
- The Shanghai Spirit: The organisation operates on principles of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, mutual consultation, respect for cultural diversity, and common development.
- Expansion Milestones:
- 2017: India and Pakistan joined as full members.
- 2023: Iran formally acceded.
- 2024: Belarus became the tenth full member.
- Institutional Structure: Supported by two permanent bodies—the SCO Secretariat in Beijing and the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) in Tashkent.
Geopolitical and Strategic Dimensions
- Rejection of Unilateralism:
- The Bishkek Declaration explicitly condemned military strikes on Iranian territory, affirming that such actions violate the UN Charter and international law.
- Civilian Nuclear Rights:
- Member states affirmed the sovereign right of nations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) framework to develop peaceful civilian nuclear energy without discrimination.
- Critique of Extraterritorial Sanctions:
- The declaration opposed unilateral coercive economic sanctions enacted outside the UN Security Council, noting their disruptive impact on global supply chains, food security, and energy trade.
- Reforming Global Governance:
- China and Russia utilized the platform to advocate for a multipolar global order, positioning the SCO as a counterweight to Western-led multilateral institutions.
Security Dimension: Countering the “Three Evils”
- Zero Tolerance on Terror:
- The SCO reiterated its founding mandate to eradicate the “three evils”—terrorism, separatism, and extremism.
- No “Double Standards”:
- India firmly shaped the counter-terrorism discourse by insisting on language that calls out cross-border terrorism, terror-financing networks, and the selective shielding of designated terrorists.
- Managing Bilateral Friction:
- Despite ongoing friction, Pakistan endorsed the joint declaration, reflecting the institutional constraint within the SCO that compels member states to sign common counter-terror communiqués.
- Afghan Stability:
- The declaration called for a peaceful, sovereign, and neutral Afghanistan free from narcotics and terrorism, urging the Taliban regime to establish a truly representative, broad-based government.
Geo-Economic and Connectivity Dimensions
- De-Dollarisation & Currency Settlements:
- In response to secondary sanctions and SWIFT restrictions, members committed to expanding roadmaps for bilateral settlements in national currencies.
- Multimodal Transport Infrastructure:
- The declaration emphasized regional integration through corridors linking South Asia, Central Asia, and Russia.
- Chabahar and INSTC:
- For India, connectivity through Iran’s Chabahar Port and the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) provides direct trade access to landlocked Central Asia while completely bypassing overland transit blocks.
- Bilateral Resource Diplomacy:
- On the summit sidelines, India strengthened its “Connect Central Asia” policy—exemplified by long-term bilateral agreements with Uzbekistan for uranium supplies and strategic critical minerals.
Opportunities for India
- Continental Security Anchor:
- Active membership in RATS allows India to track regional terrorist networks and drug trafficking emanating from the Af-Pak arc.
- Direct Access to Central Asia:
- The SCO keeps India diplomatically engaged with resource-rich Central Asian republics, securing vital energy sources, uranium, and rare earth minerals.
- Preventing a Monopolistic Bloc:
- India’s physical presence prevents the SCO from turning into an uncontested, Beijing-dominated anti-India or anti-West platform.
Challenges and Risks
- Risk of Diplomatic Misalignment:
- Endorsing statements critical of Western sanctions risks straining India’s vital strategic partnerships with the United States, Europe, and Israel.
- The BRI Sovereignty Conflict:
- China’s flagship Belt and Road Initiative infringes upon Indian sovereignty via the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) passing through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), preventing full connectivity consensus.
- Bilateral Disputes Hampering Integration:
- Recurrent military standoffs along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China and ongoing cross-border terrorism from Pakistan limit deep institutional cooperation.
Way Forward
- Sustain Issue-Based Multi-Alignment:
- India must continue to decouple its continental engagement in the SCO from its maritime partnerships in the Quad, assessing every issue on its independent merits.
- Prioritize Sovereign Connectivity:
- India must accelerate the execution of the INSTC and the full commercialization of Chabahar Port to offer Central Asia viable trade corridors that respect territorial integrity.
- Leverage Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI):
- India can share its proven open-source platforms (such as UPI, national identity systems, and health tech) with Central Asian states to modernize regional e-commerce without creating debt burdens.
- Depoliticize Counter-Terrorism:
- Institutionalize binding mechanisms within RATS to mandate transparency and prevent member states from weaponizing terror proxies or blocking terror designations.
Conclusion
- The SCO remains vital for India to secure its continental borders, access Central Asian energy, and counter terror networks. By sustaining strategic autonomy, New Delhi effectively balances its Eurasian engagements with Western partnerships while resisting unilateralism and safeguarding territorial sovereignty.
