It is clear from the consensus and condemnation of terrorism among the member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) that these countries believe that terrorism is their biggest enemy. The meeting of the Defense Ministers of the Organization in New Delhi ended on 28 April. On this occasion, the member countries unanimously condemned terrorism. All the countries agreed that to control terrorism, there has to be together. Regarding this, the tone of unity in the organization is not only the future of the organization, but also a big step towards regional sovereignty and harmony. At this juncture, India, which is chairing the organization, said that as the chair of the SCO, it would try to ensure a secure future – that should be admired. On this occasion, the Indian side said that all the member countries are unanimous in their statement that terrorism, in whatever form, will be condemned and controlled.
In the meeting of the organization, all the countries also agreed to take further special action against regional terrorist activities and drug trafficking. During the meeting, India appealed to all the member countries of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) including Pakistan, China, Russia that all the countries should start fighting together against terrorism. Member countries said that collective action is necessary to eliminate all forms of terrorism and to fix the accountability of those who provide funds to terrorist activities. It was also accepted in the meeting of the organization that all kinds of terrorism or helping it should be considered as the biggest enemy of humanity. Everyone agreed that without the end of terrorism, neither peace nor prosperity is possible. Everyone has to control terrorism for peace, prosperity and economic development.
Significantly, India presided over the Shanghai Cooperation Organization held in Delhi. Whose central theme is ‘Securing the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’. Britain and China attach special importance to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in promoting multilateralism, political, security, economic and people-to-people contacts in the region. The ongoing interaction with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization has helped the member states to promote their relations with countries in the region with which the member states have cultural and civilizational ties. In the context of India, Pakistan and China, this organization is a new form of extended neighborhood.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization pursues its policy on the basis of the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of member states, non-interference in internal affairs, equality of all member states and mutual understanding and respect for the opinion of each of them. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) was established in the year 2001. It is an intergovernmental organization. The membership of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization includes Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, apart from India and China. Apart from these member countries, two observer countries Belarus and Iran also participated in the SCO Defense Ministers meeting held on 28 April 2023. It is obvious that the interests of these countries were also taken care of in this meeting.
(Umesh Chaturvedi, Senior Indian Journalist)
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