SCO summit

Published October 14, 2024

IT is a matter of prestige that Pakistan is hosting the SCO Heads of Government summit from tomorrow.

The multilateral event in the capital is all the more important as Pakistan tries to chart an economic recovery; besides, by hosting the summit, the country appears to have thwarted attempts by certain quarters to isolate it internationally. However, the state bears great responsibility to ensure that the event passes off smoothly, especially as Pakistan confronts a wave of terrorism, and malevolent actors trying to exploit security loopholes.

Clearly, this is why the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi have been placed under virtual lockdown until the summit concludes. Ten thousand police and paramilitary personnel will protect the diplomatic mega event, while the military will also offer assistance. True, the security protocols appear excessively stringent, but the administration knows that it can take no chances as foreign dignitaries gather in the capital. In this regard, all quarters, including political parties, must ensure that no hurdles are placed in the way of the SCO summit.

Beyond the security lens, the summit offers Pakistan an opportunity to engage with other states in the neighbourhood. The SCO, a Beijing-led initiative, brings together China, Russia, the Central Asian states, Iran and others, to foster a Eurasian community that focuses on socioeconomic cooperation, harmonising counterterrorism and law-enforcement policies, and reinforcing cultural bonds.

Regional integration — within South Asia, with Central Asia and the Middle East — is imperative if Pakistan is to embark on a successful path towards economic prosperity. While some may see the SCO as an ‘anti-West’ collective — along with the Moscow-led BRICS — this is a limited view. Partnerships between regional states and the larger neighbourhood create constituencies of peace and common efforts to encourage commerce and economic activity.

No one, therefore, should feel threatened by the fact that Eurasian states are coming together to pursue shared goals. Forums like the SCO also offer states such as Pakistan and India, which do not have cordial relations, platforms to improve ties under a multilateral umbrella. In this regard, the arrival of the Indian external affairs minister in Islamabad for the summit will be watched closely, though a bilateral breakthrough is not expected. Together with the SCO, Pakistan should also endeavour for full BRICS membership — for which it has applied — and engage other regional blocs to expand its trade horizons and improve foreign relations.

At one time, Pakistan was a major voice in the comity of developing nations and the Muslim world. Due to our own internal weaknesses, specifically economic meltdowns, our international stature has been severely reduced. A successful holding of the SCO summit would signal that Pakistan is very much back on the world stage.

Published in Dawn, October 14th, 2024

Opinion

Editorial

Disregarding CCI
04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

THE 18th Amendment reflected the collective commitment of the 2008 parliament to increased participatory federalism....
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

THE convention is that when parties are seeking a cessation in hostilities or a ceasefire, they engage in...
Concerning measures
Updated 03 Nov, 2024

Concerning measures

The govt must seek political input and consensus on the changes it is seeking to make and be open about its intentions.
Short-lived relief?
03 Nov, 2024

Short-lived relief?

POLICYMAKERS must be jumping with joy. At the close of the first quarter of FY25, the budget posted a consolidated...
Brisk spread
03 Nov, 2024

Brisk spread

THE surge in polio cases has reached distressing levels with a tally of 45 last reported, after two cases emerged in...