Expansion of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Harbinger of Regional Peace and Prosperity

Abstract

This paper endeavours to make an enquiry and analyse the effects of expansion of SCO on the region. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is an emerging regional security organization consisting on China, Russia, and four central Asian states. The organization was officially established in 2001 with an objective of cooperation in regional security and fighting terrorism. Incognito objective of SCO was to counter increasing US influence in the region in post 9/11 scenario. Presence of NATO forces in Chinese and Russian backyard was detested by both regional powers thus stimulating swift formation of SCO. Pakistan and India being two important regional players could not remain oblivious of this significant development and applied for its membership in 2006 and 2014 respectively. The decade long deliberations culminated into receiving Pakistan and India as full time members during 15thSCO summit held at Ufa (Russia) on 10 July 2015.Admittance of the two nuclear armed states having large populations, improved economies and large standing armies added new dimensions in SCO’s framework. By virtue of this long awaited expansion, Pakistan has renewed prospects to contribute in regional peace and stability by integrating with SCO member states economically and militarily. Moreover, under the SCO flagship, Pakistan can improve its relations with majority of its neighbours being members of SCO. The enduring geo-economic and geo- political interdependencies will diminish chances of multilateral conflicts thus prospects of lasting peace and prosperity have immensely increased.