Explore the significance of Shinghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) for Pakistan.

Introduction

Zbigniew Brzezinski wrote in The Grand Chessboard (1997): "Eurasia is the globe's largest continent and is geopolitically axial." On 9 June 2017, at the SCO summit in Astana, Pakistan became a full member of the leading organisation of that continent, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. For a country long seen through the lens of the war on terror and its rivalry with India, joining a major Eurasian organisation alongside China, Russia and the Central Asian republics was a significant diplomatic achievement. The SCO offers Pakistan opportunities in diplomacy, security, energy, trade and connectivity, though it also has clear limits.

Overview

Pakistan became an observer in the SCO in 2005 and applied for full membership in 2006. Its membership, together with India's, was approved in principle at the Ufa Summit (2015) and completed at Astana (2017). The SCO's members together account for around 40 percent of the world's population and a large share of global energy reserves. Pakistan has since participated in SCO summits, ministerial meetings, the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) and military exercises, and hosted the Council of Heads of Government in Islamabad in October 2024.

Significance of the SCO for Pakistan

1. Diplomatic standing and an escape from isolation.

Membership gives Pakistan a seat at the table with China, Russia, India, Iran and Central Asian states, enhancing its standing and countering attempts to isolate it internationally. (Reference: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, statement on full membership of the SCO, June 2017; Astana Declaration, 2017.)

2. Access to Central Asia.

The SCO links Pakistan with the Central Asian republics, opening political, trade and cultural ties with a region with which it shares historical and religious bonds. (Reference: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, Vision Central Asia policy, 2021.)

3. Energy security.

Central Asian members and Russia are major energy producers. The SCO can support projects such as CASA-1000 electricity and the TAPI gas pipeline (Turkmenistan is not a member but engages with the region) that would help meet Pakistan's energy needs. (Reference: World Bank, CASA-1000 project; TAPI Pipeline Company Limited.)

4. Counter-terrorism cooperation.

Through RATS in Tashkent, Pakistan shares intelligence and coordinates against terrorism, separatism and extremism, problems it faces directly. (Reference: Shanghai Convention on Combating Terrorism, Separatism and Extremism, 2001; SCO Convention on Countering Extremism, 2017.)

5. Economic opportunities and connectivity.

The SCO supports regional connectivity, which complements CPEC and could make Pakistan's ports at Gwadar and Karachi gateways for Eurasian trade. (Reference: SCO Summit declarations on connectivity; Long Term Plan for CPEC (2017-2030).)

6. A platform on Afghanistan.

With Afghanistan's neighbours as members or observers, the SCO, including its Afghanistan Contact Group, provides a regional forum for coordinating on Afghan peace and stability. (Reference: SCO Secretariat, SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group documents; Dushanbe Declaration, 2021.)

7. A channel for dialogue with India.

SCO meetings allow Pakistani and Indian leaders to meet on the sidelines even when bilateral talks are frozen, and the SCO bars members from bringing bilateral disputes into its agenda, reducing confrontation. (Reference: SCO Charter, 2002; Ministry of Foreign Affairs statements on SCO ministerial meetings in Goa (2023) and Islamabad (2024).)

8. Balancing relations with major powers.

The SCO allows Pakistan to deepen ties with Russia and China while maintaining relations with the West, reducing its dependence on any single power. (Reference: National Security Policy of Pakistan 2022-2026, section on foreign policy.)

Limitations and challenges

The SCO works by consensus and lacks enforcement mechanisms, so it cannot resolve disputes such as Kashmir. India's membership limits any pro-Pakistan position, and its economic cooperation remains underdeveloped compared with organisations such as ASEAN. Security in Afghanistan, the lack of physical connectivity with Central Asia and Pakistan's economic weakness also limit the benefits. (Reference: SCO Charter, Article 16 on decision-making by consensus.)

How Pakistan can maximise the benefits

Pakistan should actively promote connectivity projects linking CPEC with Central Asia, use RATS for counter-terrorism cooperation, pursue energy deals with Central Asian states and Russia, engage in SCO educational and cultural programmes, and use the platform for quiet diplomacy with India and Afghanistan, while strengthening its economy to take full advantage of regional trade.

Conclusion

The SCO Charter commits members to "strengthening mutual trust, friendship and good-neighbourliness" and to joint efforts for "peace, security and stability in the region." For Pakistan, membership is a major opportunity to enhance its diplomatic standing, reach Central Asia, secure energy, combat terrorism, promote connectivity, coordinate on Afghanistan and maintain dialogue with India. The SCO is not an alliance and cannot solve every problem, but used wisely, it can help Pakistan become a bridge between South Asia, Central Asia and China.