Why Pakistan should not discuss bilateral issues on SCO?

Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is an emerging block in our region that offers several opportunities for all member countries including Pakistan to solve their problems on one table.

The SCO works as a multilateral forum to address current issues of international politics, economics, regional stability, and security. These four aspects have greatly aided investing.

China and Russia are its active members which are trying to make this block active to solve issues of the region.

Traditionally, United States (US) and its allied countries have been setting world order.

Due to the monopoly of US-led block, different countries like Iran have faced several problems.

The main issue is the US uses dollars as its financial tool to penalize any country that goes against its hegemony.

In this background, SCO has emerged as a potential threat for the US and its allied countries.

Therefore, they make their efforts to disintegrate this SCO block due to its rivalry with China and Russia.

What Pakistan should do?

Pakistan has several issues with India. Occupied Kashmir is a major issue between the two countries.

India has occupied Kashmir for a long and violates human rights. Therefore, Pakistan has been raising its voice in support of Kashmiris on all international forums.

Pakistan and India are their permanent members.

However, western countries are also keen to undermine the unity, trying to form alternative formats.

Under these circumstances, Pakistan should not mention its difficulties in relations with India on SCO to keep the unity of the organization.

Experts say that SCO should be used to resolve regional issues. Therefore, Pakistan should not discuss bilateral issues on this forum to maintain its unity.

This forum’s significance is steadily expanding. The SCO will surely transition from a regional “hub club” to a formidable cooperation platform dealing with economic and security issues spanning Eastern Europe to Southeast Asia once Iran joins.

Pakistan’s permanent SCO membership gives greater access to resources and energy import programs.

How the US sets its order

Iran is an energy-rich nation. It has oil and gas and is very close to Pakistan.

Pakistan has been working for decades to execute Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline project. However, the US has imposed sanctions on Iran and therefore, Pakistan has been unable to execute this project.

However, the US pushed Pakistan towards Qatar to strike the LNG deal. The reason was that US companies have joint ventures with Qatar Petroleum.

Even, US had provided consultants to execute the LNG deal contract with Qatar.

On another side, Pakistan wants to execute North-South Gas Pipeline Project. However, the US has imposed sanctions against Russian firms.

So, Pakistan has no autonomy to materialize energy projects according to its choice.

Benefits of SCO

SCO provides a platform for energy, economic, military, and technical cooperation between member countries.

The Kashgar-Gwadar project between Islamabad and Beijing is part of the Silk Road Economic Belt, Pakistan’s position in regional economy and infrastructure projects will undoubtedly grow.

Pakistan has CPEC projects, a part of one belt one road initiative. Pakistan needs to be more active in SCO to make this initiative successful.

So, the word of caution is that Pakistan should not take up bilateral issues with India on this platform. Rather, it should work on a big canvas to resolve regional economic and security issues.