External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishanakar represented India at the 23rd Meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisations (SCO) Council of Heads of Government, held in Islamabad, Pakistan, on 16 October 2024. The two-day meeting, held on 15&16 October 2024, was hosted by the Pakistani Prime Minister, Shahbaz Sharif.

This was the first visit of an Indian minister to Pakistan after the 2015 visit of the then External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. Sushma Swaraj visited Islamabad, Pakistan, in December 2015 to attend the Heart of Asia Conference.

India refuses to support the China Belt and Road Initiative

India refused to endorse China’s Belt and Road Initiative, of which the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a part. The CEPC is a trade and connectivity project that seeks to connect the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China with the Gwadar Port in Baluchistan and Karachi in Pakistan. It passes through the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, and India has consistently opposed the project as it violates its sovereignty. India claims Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as its integral part.

Hence, India refused to endorse the BRI project mentioned in the joint communique issued at the end of the meeting in Islamabad.

Dr Jaishankar also said SCO, formed to promote trade and connectivity in the region, faces the challenge of three evils: terrorism, extremism, and separatism. In a veiled reference to Pakistan, Dr Jaishankar said that support for cross-border terrorism and extremism hinders trade, energy flows, and connectivity.

Participants at the 23rd SCO Heads of Government Council

The 23rd SCO Heads of Government Council meeting was attended by Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Belarusian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko, Tajik Prime Minister Qohir Rasulzoda, Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, Kyrgyz Prime Minister Akylbek Japarov, Uzbek Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, India’s External Affairs Minister and Seyyed Muhammad Atabak, Iran’s Minister for Trade and Industry Seyyed Muhammad Atabak.

Pakistan did not invite Afghanistan, as its observer status in the SCO has been suspended since 2021. No country of the SCO recognises the Taliban government in Afghanistan.

About the SCO Council of Heads of Government

The SCO has two main bodies- SCO Heads of State Council and SCO Heads of Government Council. The chairmanship of the SCO Heads of State Council and SCO Heads of Government Council is rotated annually amongst the member countries as per the Russian alphabet.

The SCO Heads of State Council is the supreme decision-making body of the SCO. It deals with political issues such as the organisation's objective and functioning, its relationship with other States and international organisations, and its position on various international issues.

The SCO Heads of State Council meeting is held annually, and the Indian Prime Minister attends it.

The 24th SCO Heads of State Council meeting was held in Astana, Kazakhstan, on 4 July 2024, and the 25th SCO Heads of State Council meeting will be held in China in 2025.

SCO Heads of Government Council

The SCO Heads of Government Council(Prime Minister) is the second most important body of the SCO. It deals with economic, trade, and connectivity issues and approves the organisation's budget.

The SCO Heads of Government Council meeting is held annually, and a member country hosts it. Normally, separate countries host the SCO Heads of Government Council and SCO Heads of State Council meetings in a year.

India is represented by a minister in the SCO Heads of Government Council meeting.

The 22nd SCO Heads of Government Council meeting was held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on 26 October 2023.

Also Read: Belarus Joins SCO 10th member, PM Modi skips Summit Meeting in Astana.

About Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)

Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is a permanent inter-governmental organisation that was set up in 2001.

China and Russia are the main promoters of the SCO, which was initially focused on promoting trade and connectivity in the Central Asian region.

Now, SCO is seen as primarily an anti-western organisation led by China and Russia.

Headquarters: Beijing, China

Permanent Members of SCO (10 Countries): Kazakhstan, China, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, India, Pakistan, Iran and Belarus.

Observer Members: Mongolia (Afghanistan observer status has been suspended since 2021)