SCO geo-politically significant for India

Tashkent: India is looking to usher in a comprehensive and multifaceted partnership with the countries of Central Asia by leveraging the platform provided by the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), people aware of the matter said.

SCO is a prominent Eurasian grouping to ensure peace, stability, and security in the vast and resource rich region stretching from the borders of Europe to the Pacific, including China, Russia and Pakistan.

India hosted SCO's latest summit virtually earlier this week where Iran became the ninth member of the grouping.

SCO member countries collectively represent 40% of the world's population and contribute about 30% of the global GDP.

India's strengthening ties with Central Asian states have grown by leaps and bounds over the last few years notwithstanding the pandemic. When these countries attained independence after the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991, India was among the first countries to recognise these republics diplomatically.

Now, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan are members of SCO.

The Central Asian Region (CAR) holds an important position in India's geostrategic outreach and is part of the country's 'extended neighbourhood'.

India's partnership across the region focuses on a wide range of areas, including security, counterterrorism, energy security, trade and investments, connectivity and infrastructure, and people-to-people ties.

India and CAR countries face common challenges pertaining to terrorism, extremism and drug trafficking.

However, the potential of economic cooperation between India and Central Asia remains largely untapped, with trade figures currently hovering around a modest $2 billion, people cited above said.