Modi’s Sco Agenda: Shaping A Region Free Of Terror, Widening Arc Of Prosperity

By Author: CGI
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With the mantra of “Security, Connectivity and Opportunity (SCO),” Prime Minister Narendra Modi has embarked on visits to Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan to deepen relations with the two key states of the resource-rich Central Asia, and to participate in the SCO summit that that help shape an inclusive and terror-free region.

PM Modi has set the tone for this latest diplomatic outreach to Central Asia, India’s extended neighbourhood, by stressing on the overarching importance of enhancing cooperation to combat the scourge of terrorism that afflicts the region in myriad ways.

By placing terrorism on the top of his SCO agenda, PM Modi has made it clear that India would like to see the 10-nation grouping to speak in one voice, sans ambiguity and double standards, on the issue of forging a united stand against terrorism. Like in the Tianjin Declaration last year, India will insist on a strongly worded formulation in the SCO joint declaration, with a clear-cut reference to perpetrators of cross-border terrorism and urge the SCO to take a joint stand against states that sponsor terrorism. He need not overtly mention ...
... Pakistan, but his reference will be obvious for anyone to miss it, especially as Pakistan takes over the chairship of the SCO after Kyrgyzstan.

As a counter, India will propose alternative modes of organising cross-border connectivity corridors like the International North-South Transport Corridor and the Chabahar port. India will also support trans-national energy grid initiatives as important components of the region’s economic resilience.

India has objected to BRI as China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a key component of BRI, passes through Indian territory of Jammu and Kashmir, which amounts to violating India’s sovereignty. Against this backdrop, India will seek support for rules-based connectivity, which includes respect for national sovereignty and territorial integrity, based on the principles of transparency, inclusivity and financial sustainability.

Taking a long-range view, PM Modi is expected to highlight new opportunities that will bind the region in a web of win-win prosperity. India would like to expand the agenda of SCO to go beyond traditional areas and focus on forging collaboration in the crucial area of critical and emerging technologies. In this regard, PM Modi, in his remarks, is likely to position India’s Digital Public Infrastructure as a model that will bring tangible benefits to SCO countries. India will also press for enhancing collaboration among SCO countries in innovation, information and communications, and artificial intelligence.

Amid growing geopolitical turbulence and shifting alignments, India will leverage the SCO summit to renew its call for accelerating reform of global governance architecture, political and economic. The SCO comprises two permanent members of the UN Security Council (Russia and China). India has been campaigning vigorously for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council. India has officially launched its bid for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2028–2029 term. In his remarks, PM Modi is likely to highlight the central theme of India’s UNSC campaign, centred on the “SHANTI” (Securing Holistic Advancement through Norms, Trust, and Integrity) vision, which emphasizes Global South representation, reformed multilateralism, and maritime security. The election for non-permanent seat will be held in June 2027.

From time to time, some sections in India’s strategic circles have called for India to withdraw from the China-dominated SCO, but the Indian government has rightly rejected such reasoning as it would amount to ceding the crucial space to China, which does not bode ill for India’s core strategic interests in the region. PM Modi’s presence at the SCO summit in Bishkek will send an unambiguous message about India’s strategic design to shape SCO as a peaceful region that will support its long-term developmental aspirations.

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