SCO plans single list of terrorist, separatist and extremist groups banned on territories of member states 

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The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) members intend to compile a list of terrorist, separatist, and extremist organisations whose activities are prohibited on their territories in order to address the security threat posed by militant groups.

The leaders of the SCO member states, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressed grave concern over the security threat posed by terrorism, separatism, and extremism in all its forms and manifestations in a joint statement released at the conclusion of the annual summit of the eight-member group on Friday in the historic Uzbek city of Samarkand. The leaders also strongly condemned terrorist acts across the globe.

The resolution stated that “the member states while reaffirming a strong commitment to combat terrorism, separatism, and extremism, resolve to continue to take active measures to address the conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism, cut off terrorist financing channels, suppress terrorist recruitment and cross-border movement, counter extremism, the radicalization of youth, the spread of terrorist ideology, and eliminate sleeper cells and places used as terrorist safe havens.”

The leaders of the eight-member organisation signed a document in Samarkand that read, “In accordance with their national legislation and on the basis of consensus, the member states will seek to develop common principles and approaches to form a unified list of terrorist, separatist, and extremist organisations whose activities are prohibited on the territories of the SCO member states.”

Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra told reporters that every SCO member state had made it very clear that they understood the threat that this challenge posed to the region and beyond.

The SCO members urged adherence to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling, and Use of Chemical Weapons in order to combat the menace of chemical and biological terrorism. The declaration stated that “they emphasise the significance of the swift disposal of all declared stockpiles of chemical weapons.”

Concerning Afghanistan, which is now dominated by the Taliban, the leaders urged the establishment of an inclusive government.

The declaration stated that the member nations “think it highly important to establish in Afghanistan an inclusive government with involvement of representatives of all ethnic, religious, and political groupings of Afghan society.”

Additionally, the organisation promoted the establishment of Afghanistan as a sovereign, united, democratic, and peaceful nation free from terrorism, violence, and drug use.

In regards to Iran, the statement stated that the SCO member states deemed the sustained implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on the Iranian nuclear programme important and urged all parties to adhere strictly to their commitments for the full and effective implementation of the agreement.

According to the report, difficulties in economic growth, social well-being, and food security, as well as to the fulfilment of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, are posed by the effects of global climate change and the current COVID-19 epidemic.

In order to achieve more equal and successful international cooperation as well as sustainable economic development, new approaches are necessary, it was underlined.

The member nations reaffirmed their dedication to a world system built on the internationally acknowledged principles of international law, multilateralism, equality, commonwealth, and indivisible, comprehensive, and sustainable security.

The SCO demanded that trade barriers are lowered and a transparent global energy market is established.

It demanded that the World Trade Organization (WTO) function effectively as the primary venue for debating the multilateral trading system’s rules and approving the international trade agenda.

According to the declaration, they emphasised the necessity of an early and comprehensive reform of the organisation with a focus on its advancement and adaptation to contemporary economic realities as well as the successful implementation of monitoring, negotiation, and dispute resolution functions.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which has eight members and is considered a counterweight to NATO, has grown to become one of the biggest transregional international organisations. In 2017, India and Pakistan were admitted as permanent members.

The presidents of Russia, China, the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan established the SCO at a conference in Shanghai in 2001.

India has expressed a strong desire to strengthen its security-related cooperation with the SCO and its Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure (RATS), which focuses on security and defense-related problems.

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