Analysis of the Indian decision to hold the SCO Head of State Summit virtually on July 4, 2023

India has announced to host the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit virtually in the first week of July. New Delhi is avoiding hosting regional leaders in person. This clearly shows that India does not give the same importance to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization as it is giving to the G20 New Delhi Summit.
India assumed the chairmanship of the SCO at the Samarkand Summit on September 16, 2022. Any platform where Pakistan is present, India always tries to ridicule that platform. India is trying to create hurdles for Pakistan in the SCO.
India has shown its inclination towards the G20 head of state summit, which is planned to be held in September, to try to show itself as a global power. India is giving full preference to the G20 summit.
India is totally trying to destroy the spirit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. It is clearly violating the core principles and values of the Shanghai spirit. SCO is a facilitator for fostering regional peace, cooperation, stability, and shared development. SCO has always played a constructive role in facilitating dialogue and promoting confidence-building measures among member states.
India is giving importance to the G20 summit and downplaying the SCO. India always tries to downplay organizations where Pakistan plays a dominant role, as happened with SAARC. As the head of the chairmanship, India has deprived the regional countries of the opportunity to come together for peace. Containing Pakistan has become part and parcel of Indian foreign policy.
When Narendra Modi came to power in 2014, his government adopted the “Neighbourhood First” policy, aiming to enhance relations with its regional countries and promote regional peace and cooperation. Instead of ensuring its Neighbourhood First policy, it has created a lot of problems for neighbouring countries.
It is the responsibility of the organizing country to conduct efforts to maintain peace and stability in the region and fulfil the roles of engagement and cooperation.
However, Modi’s arrogance and hostility towards Pakistan have exceeded expectations. India’s growing alignment with the US and West led to a reduction in regional commitment to come together for regional peace.
India’s ongoing efforts to undermine Pakistan and sow strife show India’s aggressive and smear policy. Participation of our Foreign Minister, Bilawal Bhutto, at the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Goa reiterated Pakistan’s commitments, the significance of the SCO, and the importance that Pakistan places importance on regional stability, constructive engagement, dialogue, cooperative efforts, economic growth, and connectivity.
Written by:
Mr. Khalid Taimur Akram, Executive Director,
Pakistan Research Center for a Community with
Shared Future (PRCCSF), Islamabad