Security trumps rivalry as India, Pakistan to join China-led regional bloc
The two countries will ‘add to the influence of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’, China says, but their rivalry could test the group’s internal cohesion
India and Pakistan are set to become new members of the Beijing-backed security grouping, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, despite lingering concerns over regional rivalry between China and India.
The accession of India and Pakistan as full members of the body will be formally announced during its annual summit on June 8 and 9 in Astana, Kazakhstan, which will be attended by President Xi Jinping.
The inclusion of the two countries, who previously held observer status, will “add to the potential and the global influence of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation”, China’s assistant foreign minister, Li Huilai, said on Monday.
The SCO, seen by some as a counterweight to the US- and European-led North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), is a political and security organisation that facilitates counter-terrorism cooperation. Its members are China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.
The inclusion of India and Pakistan is expected test the group’s internal cohesion. China will assume the rotating chairmanship of the group next year, and will now face the challenge of managing bitter relations between Pakistan and India, as well as its own rivalry with New Delhi.