India and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)

[neo29]

Russia will go all out in praising Pakistan coz of their interest in Afghan region. Not to mention they see Pak as their future customer in case India completely leans towards US and Europe.

 

[chex3009]

Russia will go all out in praising Pakistan coz of their interest in Afghan region. Not to mention they see Pak as their future customer in case India completely leans towards US and Europe.

Thats true, but what India needs to keep an eye is that we don't lean over to the US weaponry so much that it makes Russia angry and keep its economy going by such sales of weapons to the nation(Pakistan) which guarantees there will be no stoppage in demand of the military supplies from them.

China is already supplying Pakistan with some weapons which are not as potent but can be dangerous as they are bought in numbers by the pakistanis.

If this platform(SCO) helps in reducing tensions by bringing on interests of the region first, then India must join it and send the US back packing from Afghanistan.

 

[amoy]

China shall support PAK's access to SCO. Believe Russia also knows well India wants sitting on the fence milking from both blocs like it did during Cold War era. Without India inside SCO, it remains simple and easier to "manage".

Mr. Zardari in return has offered to provide for Russia "access to warm seas".

Regret Sino-PAK relationship remains at a state level mostly. We shall encourage more people-to-people interactions and eco. cooperation. SCO plays a key role in China's energy security and PAK makes it complete with the gateway to Arab / Persian Gulf

 

[prototype]

SCO is nothing more than an redundant organization,I see no reason why we join BRIC.
What change had it brought to the global order after its inception.
How is actually is changing the geopolitics.
Its not a military organization,its even not an economic behemoth,except China and Russia (and to an extent Kazakhstan)no other mentionable members.

Two of the member's are already present in BRIC(eventually the biggest members of SCO also).
Their is no point forging multiple alliances with the same nation's again and again in the name of strategic relationships.
I dont think anyway we can take this relation to a much higher point with Russia,and China does not anyway value Indian interest.

The only member left is Kazakhstan with whom we already share good relation,I dont think we need a SCO to solidify the relation,the depth of the relation can be seen from the fact that now India is a supplier of civilian nuclear reactors to Kazakhstan.

Currently a permanent energy route to central Asia is more important,and I dnt think if SCO can help it out.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

Russia will go all out in praising Pakistan coz of their interest in Afghan region. Not to mention they see Pak as their future customer in case India completely leans towards US and Europe.

Russians don't gift weapons or give soft loans.

 

[SpArK]

Eeek.. too much movies it seems. The first thing that went to my mind when i saw this pic was of DOBBY, the elf, in Harry potter and him saying "dobby has come to serve his new master"...

 

[civfanatic]

SCO & India: Is permanent membership in SCO in Indian interest?

NEW DELHI: For the first time, India has officially sought full membership of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), the central Asian grouping dominated by China and Russia, looked upon by many as an emerging counter-weight to NATO.

India will vie for full membership with rival Pakistan — which officially applied much earlier and has China's backing — at the SCO summit meet next month in Kazakhstan's Astana where the group will take up the expansion issue.

Both India and Pakistan, along with Iran and Mongolia, have observer status at SCO. The group, which exercises immense influence in the energy-rich central Asia on security and economic issues, comprises Russia, China, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan as full-time members. SCO has become crucial for regional peace and Afghanistan has also sought observer status in the group.

India seeks full membership of SCO - The Times of India

 

[ganesh177]

Is it that only one of both will get the full membership ?
If yes then it shud be interesting contest.
Pakistan have china's backing, while india by default will have russia's backing. Rest smaller members will prefer india as a customer for there energy exports.

This shud be a good practice match for india of how to seek the favour of different nations for votes, further ahead of security council circus.

 

[amoy]

Access of rivaling Pak and Ind will only complicate SCO, hamper its effectiveness and dilute its role for regional (energy) security

 

[A.V.]

Knee jerk reaction to pakistan's intentions india has very little to gain by joining SCO especially when all positives moves will be blocked by the union of china and pakistan , SCO is not moving ahead it will be a non starter because russia is looking for its own group of CAR union in a more aggresive defensive way separately.

 

[Nonynon]

If India joins SCO, China might step down a little from Kashmire in order to keep SCO strong and united against NATO. With India, SCO would be a worthy rival of NATO and that could encourage more countries to join SCO.

NATO is loosing ground in the middle east pretty fast so all Asia can pretty much be under SCO influence if India joins in, or at least free of NATO influence.

 

[Virendra]

I agree to it. But apart from being a counter weight, SCO's own positive contribution and effectiveness would be under question.
That is because India, Pakistan & China together a forum would lead to deadlocks, leaveing little room for consensus and breakthrough.

Regards,
Virendra

 

[nimo_cn]

If India joins SCO, China might step down a little from Kashmire in order to keep SCO strong and united against NATO. With India, SCO would be a worthy rival of NATO and that could encourage more countries to join SCO.

NATO is loosing ground in the middle east pretty fast so all Asia can pretty much be under SCO influence if India joins in, or at least free of NATO influence.

SCO is not meant to be an military organization like NATO, neither it is meant to counterbalance NATO. Therefore it is a good idea to keep NATO out of the discussion of SCO.

The main task of SCO is to strengthen the cooperation among countries around Central Asia while combatting the terrorism and maintaining the stability in that region.

Given the frictions between China, Pakistan and India, China may veto both India and Pakistan for the fear of complicating the issue and reducing the efficiency of the organization by the introduction of the two. However, Russia seems to be very enthusiastic about the idea of including India in SCO.

 

[Bot]

China will definitely veto India's inclusion and russia pakistan's.

China wants the whole of central asian riches for its industries , having India will make russian claims stronger as russia will have a solid ally in india

Same is the case with pakistan's inclusion then russia will be left polarized.a tricky situation and that is why member above said china will veto both as it serves no purpose of its.

 

[p2prada]

SCO is just a cheaper way of getting Russian oil and gas into India and China. We will benefit tremendously from joining SCO.

 

[Bot]

India can access cheap russian oil and gas even without joining SCO , joining it means another diplomatic headache.

 

[Nonynon]

I don't know nimo, sounds to me like having an economic alliance that includes all the West's Rivals makes it have more meaning then just improving economic relations. And you can think of it this way - Russia and China can have political power over India through SCO and because of Russia, that will probably not have to do with Kashmire but with the shared Chinese, Russian rivalry with the West instead.

 

[prototype]

But frankly i am against India joining the cooperation,frankly how much it profit India to be in such a cooperation.

As we know Pakistan is also about to become a member,with both China and Pakistan we share turbulent history and I dont think by just joining one more organization we can forget that past.

More over we will be pressed on Kashmir issue also while being in SCO.

Many in south Asia consider this as a military alliance,and a developing counter weight to NATO,frankly we all know how absurd is that claim.

They claim of providing regional security against terrorism and piracy,how will it unfold once both India and Pakistan will be part of the league,as India consider Pakistan as the reason for its terrorism problem and Pakistan considering India the reason for its Baluchistan problem.

The only influential members in the league are Russia and China(economical consideration's),both of them are already part of BRICS considered the next economic behemoth,and to an extent Kazakhstan with whom we already have good ties including nuclear trade.

SCO will be only worthy for us,if it can influence Pakistan to open it's supply routes to Central Asia for us,eventually I dont see that to happening.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

sco's still has not defined itself is it as a energy organization or a military organization?? The West has labelled it a military organization and views it as a future threat, this will become true even if SCO is not one at this point. Why is India joining??? for energy security?? regional security??? Then these are 2 good reasons. NATO has demonstrated nothing but failures in Asia from Korea,Vietnam to Afghanistan.UN has failed in many fronts and with funding mostly from the west only western nations interests are preserved. Asia needs a regional organization that can iron out issues between member nations this may be the best platform currently.

 

[nrj]

Pakistan is important for SCO assuming its geographical location & accessibility in central asia. Can GOP convince stable operations to SCO is another question.

Except political mileage, I don't see India Vs Pak contest that to be overestimated. India can benefit a lot from SCO but if Russians are working with South block for some another plan remains to be seen.