Context

• Recently, Prime Minister participated virtually in the 21st SCO Summit and through video-message in the Joint SCO-CSTO Outreach Session on Afghanistan.

Key Highlights of the recent 21st SCO Summit

• The 21st SCO Summit was held on 17 September 2021 in Dushanbe, Tajikistan in a hybrid format.
• The Indian Prime Minister addressed the Summit via video link. At Dushanbe, India was represented by External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar. 

  

• The Indian PM put emphasis on the problems caused by growing radicalization and extremism in the broader SCO region.
• It runs counter to the history of the region as a bastion of moderate and progressive cultures and values.  
• The recent developments in Afghanistan could further exacerbate this trend towards extremism.
• SCO could work on an agenda to promote moderation and scientific and rational thought.
• It would be especially relevant for the youth of the region.
• He highlighted the Indian experience of using digital technologies in its development programmes.
• He also offered to share these open-source solutions with other SCO members.
• The Prime Minister also stressed transparent, participatory and consultative connectivity projects in order to promote mutual trust.

Outreach session on Afghanistan between SCO and the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO):

• The SCO Summit was followed by an Outreach session on Afghanistan between SCO and the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO).  
• The Prime Minister participated in the outreach session through a video message.
• In the video message, Prime Minister suggested that SCO could develop a code of conduct on ‘zero tolerance towards terrorism in the region.
• He highlighted the risks of drugs, arms and human trafficking from Afghanistan.  

Back to basics

Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)

• SCO is a permanent intergovernmental international organization of Eurasian Nations with a secretariat in Beijing.
• They represent 40% of the world population and approximately 20% of World GDP along with about 22% of the world landmass.
• It is a political, economic and military organization that aims at maintaining peace, security and stability in the region.
• The SCO’s official languages are Russian and Chinese.
• It currently has 8 members with the latest being India and Pakistan who were made members in 2017.
• Member States: Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India, Pakistan

Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO)

• It is an intergovernmental military alliance (6 countries) led by Russia.
  • It was formed amongst the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and initially was the Collective Security Treaty (CST).
• It came into effect in 2002.
• Its origin can be traced to the Collective Security Treaty, 1992 (Tashkent Treaty).
• Its headquarter is located in Moscow, Russia.
• Members: Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan

Source: PIB

International Relations Current Affairs UPSC 2021 : Click Here