Pakistan reaching out through cooperation

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization, created on 15 June 2001, is a Eurasian political, economic and security organization. Originally it included only six countries: China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Pakistan and India later joined at a June 2017 summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, bringing the total to eight full members and four observer states, Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran and Mongolia. The organization also includes 6 dialogue partners —, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Turkey. They hold summit meetings every year in one member country. This year the annual summit is scheduled to be held in June 2018 in Qingdao, China. The government of Pakistan has great regard for the summit and is committed to active participation. Pakistan will make its first appearance as a full member, and the president has agreed to attend.

SCO was looking forward to Pakistan joining as a full member. This organization could never achieve its objectives of security and connectivity without the participation of Pakistan. Pakistan believes in regional cooperation and has been always actively promoted regional peace, stability and development. Pakistan is a major contributor to UN peacekeeping forces, and our role in peace efforts has been praised worldwide. The latest such effort is China’s Belt and Road Initiative, where Pakistan is a flagship partner in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

Pakistan is moving forward with its “trade not aid” policy and has been pushing for greater connectivity. Heavy investments have been carried out under the flagship CPEC project to enhance connectivity, trade and comprehensive friendship. Pakistan has successfully carried out anti-insurgency campaigns in its tribal areas. Terrorism-related incidents have been reduced tremendously. Pakistan believes regional cooperation and connectivity will promote regional peace and economic development. This is especially true when it comes to Central Asian states, with which we have strong historic bonds of culture, traditions, religion, trade and ethnicity. We share similar issues and problems. We firmly believe only cooperation can help us overcome today’s challenges.

In terms of contributing to the SCO, Pakistan can offer assistance through anti-terror mechanisms, as Pakistan has had great success overcoming terrorism in the last few years. Our experience may be shared with SCO states. As all SCO member countries with the exception of India are part of the Belt and Road Initiative, Pakistan, due to its geographic location, can facilitate connectivity projects to link Central Asia, China and Russia. It will boost economic activity for SCO member states. We already have common ground and there already existing mechanisms for cooperation. Pakistan’s location is vital and crucial for connectivity and trade. It will shorten transportation distances and reduce costs. Pakistan can also share its developmental experience under CPEC to assist the further construction of the BRI in the SCO region. Pakistan, as an English-speaking country, can contribute a lot to SCO member states in many fields.

But what does Pakistan expect? Pakistan is particularly interested in a mechanism where Pakistan can engage with all countries of this region and focus on multi-level development at a faster pace. Pakistan believes sustainable development can be achieved only when its neighbors prosper. Pakistan expects the SCO to play a role in Afghanistan’s stability, so connectivity among SCO sates through Afghanistan can be bolstered.

It is expected SCO will be expanded further and include more countries. Expected new entrants might include Iran, Turkey, Afghanistan, Belarus and Mongolia. All these countries have a very friendly relationship with Pakistan already. SCO covers more than half of the world’s population, more than half of world’s surface area, and a major portion of the planet’s natural resources, yet suffers from extremism, terrorism, drug trafficking and poverty. Yet there also exists a huge potential for growth in this part of the world.

Pakistan is very optimistic regarding its future with the SCO. Pakistan is happy to contribute wholeheartedly to SCO. Under the SCO platform, all member states will make use of CPEC’s facilities and this relationship will grow further in all dimensions. It is hoped we will achieve our common goal of “peace, stability, connectivity, development and prosperity”.

Zamir Ahmed Awan is a sinologist at the National University of Sciences and Technology in, Islamabad, Pakistan.