The Hindu : Front Page : ‘India not keen on political, military ties with SCO’

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Aug 11, 2007
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‘India not keen on political, military ties with SCO’

Sandeep Dikshit

But favours cooperation on trade with the grouping

Some Central Asian countries are keen on making India a full SCO member
New Delhi ready to share experiences in banking sector

NEW DELHI: While favouring cooperation with the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on trade and economic issues, official sources told The Hindu that India would like to steer clear of aligning with this six-nation grouping in military, strategic and political terms.

Security issue

On the security side, however, it favours exchanging information on terrorism with the SCO’s Tashkent-based Centre on Counter-Terrorism.

Besides Russia and China, the SCO comprises Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan with India, Mongolia, Iran and Pakistan as observers. Afghanistan is a special guest. Though India does not wish to engage strategically with the SCO as a grouping, it has held military exercises with some of its members such as Russia and China.

The regularity of the exercises though is a fraction of those held with the western countries.

Role of observer

Some Central Asian countries are keen on making India a full SCO member but New Delhi is seeking a clearer definition of its role and functions as an observer.

So far it has considered itself on the fringes of an organisation considered important in the Central Asian region and its expanded neighbourhood, say the sources.

Hands-on participant

As an observer, India wants to be a hands-on participant, especially in improving trade, economic and cultural linkages.

It is especially interested in being a participant in banking, economic and similar trade and development-related forum set by the SCO.

New Delhi also offers to share its experiences as well as learn from the SCO about the opening up of the banking sector and deepening the capital market.

Deora to represent

For the second successive year, India will be represented by Petroleum Minister Murli Deora.

At four other meetings after India became an SCO Observer in 2005, it has twice been represented by the former External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh and once by Minister of State in Prime Minister’s Office Prithviraj Chavan. In contrast, other observers such as Pakistan and Mongolia have sent their Prime Ministers or Presidents to the meetings.

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