Defence Ministers’ Meeting at SCO
Source : Business Standard
International Relation
What is discussed under Defence Ministers’ Meeting at SCO ?
- Key Facts
- Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)
Why in News ?
Defence Minister attended a conclave of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Dushanbe that extensively deliberated on regional security challenges as well as the situation in Afghanistan.
Key Facts
- The conclave focused on regional security challenges and evolving situation in Afghanistan.
- Afghanistan was the main theme of discussion at the SCO foreign ministers’ meet as well last week given the Taliban’s resurgence and sweep through the rural areas.
- Tajikistan is chairing the SCO this year and hosting a series of ministerial and official-level meetings.
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)
- The SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, the Kyrgyz Republic,
Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. - SCO, seen as a counterweight to NATO.
- It has emerged as one of the largest trans-regional international organisations.
- India and Pakistan became its permanent members in 2017.
- India’s Interest
- India has shown keen interest in deepening its security-related cooperation with the SCO and its Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure (RATS), which specifically deals with issues relating to security and defence.
- India was made an observer at the SCO in 2005 and has generally participated in the ministerial-level meetings of the grouping, which focus mainly on security and economic cooperation in the Eurasian region.
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