India set to become SCO's permanent member
India is set to become a permanent member of the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation (SCO), that is hosting its two-day summit at Tashkent, Uzbekistan. India will have to sign a memorandum of obligation. Anvar Nasirov, Uzbekistan's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, said India's membership was decided on at a meeting in Ufa, last year, stating that the process will be completed in the next meeting.
What is SCO?
The Shanghai Co-operation Organisation ( SCO ) is an inter-governmental bloc formed by the leaders of Russia, China, Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan on June 15, 2001 in Shanghai. The group targets international security and defense, countering terrorism across the region.
India's history with the SCO
After the formation of the bloc in 2001, India, Pakistan and Iran were inducted as observers during the 2005 summit at Astana. As an observer, India was able to take part in meetings, especially those targeted at military and political stability in Eurasia. At the 2010 summit, prohibitions on new memberships were lifted, and with support from Russia, India paved its way to membership.
Modi departs for SCO summit at Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Prime Minister Narendra Modi left for Tashkent yesterday to attend the two-day SCO summit. He had planned to meet with China's Xi Jinping, to discuss the prospects for India to be inducted into the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) The annual plenary session for the NSG meeting at Seoul starting today might see India's NSG membership come up for discussions.
India set to become SCO's permanent member
India is set to become a permanent member of the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation (SCO), that is hosting its two-day summit at Tashkent, Uzbekistan. India will have to sign a memorandum of obligation. Anvar Nasirov, Uzbekistan's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, said India's membership was decided on at a meeting in Ufa, last year, stating that the process will be completed in the next meeting.
India's SCO membership
"There is a schedule laid down for us to sign up to the other documents that are required that India needs to accede to and that will happen as the year goes by"- Sujata Mehta , Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs
What will the membership reflect?
The SCO will have India and Pakistan inducted as members, helping the nations to work for peace, amidst the decades-long political and border tensions between them. India can get a foothold into matters of trade, security, and Central Asia's gas riches. Most members of SCO are nations with expansive natural gas reserves, helping India gain access to these reserves, for its hydrocarbon projects.
