SCO Summit 2024

October 16, 2024

Pakistan will host the 2024 SCO Summit in Islamabad on October 15-16. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will welcome leaders from member states like China, Russia, Iran, and India. The summit will focus on important regional issues like security and economic cooperation. India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, will represent India, and other high-level officials from across the region will also attend.

India-Pakistan Relations at the Summit

This summit happened at a time of ongoing tension between India and Pakistan, particularly after the Pulwama attack in 2019. Despite their participation, both countries have said they won’t hold bilateral talks during the event. India emphasizes the need for peaceful relations, but it insists on addressing terrorism issues first.

India-China Border Disputes

In addition to India-Pakistan issues, India and China are also dealing with tensions over their shared border. While the summit is not directly aimed at solving this, it provides an opportunity for indirect dialogue between the two nations.

Protests in Pakistan

Pakistan is facing domestic challenges ahead of the summit, especially with protests led by the opposition PTI party. Protesters are demanding the release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is currently in jail. This has forced the Pakistani government to tighten security and make sure the summit goes smoothly.

Heightened Security for the Summit

To ensure safety during the summit, Pakistan has deployed over 10,000 police and paramilitary forces in Islamabad. Public gatherings have been banned, and strict surveillance is being enforced around key locations, such as Adiala Jail, where Imran Khan is being held.

About the SCO

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) was established in 2001 as a security-focused group. Its founding members include China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, with India and Pakistan joining in 2017. Iran is set to become a member soon. The main goal of the SCO is to promote cooperation among its member states in areas like politics, economy, and military efforts, especially in combating separatism, terrorism, and extremism.

As the largest regional organization in the world, the SCO covers 60% of Eurasia and includes 40% of the global population.

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