SCO's way forward

Pakistan vociferously called for buoying regional connectivity as the 23rd SCO summit in Islamabad came to an end. The two-day celestial huddle, however, was on the same page for investing in future for collective economic growth, and underscored the need for capacity building in horizons from climate change to industry, and from logistics to peace and security. That note of conviction, as dawned from respective members' input, blessed a homogeneity of sorts, making the Eurasia-South connect in humble multilateralism. There was a consensus among member states for moving ahead by pinning hopes in the SCO's institutional nomenclature, and broadening the mosaic by making the best use of tech-advancement to overcome inequality.

PM Shehbaz Sharif listed out the two gigantic blessings for the region, BRI and CPEC, and threw open Pakistan's landscape for cooperation while calling for realising the dream by shunning bilateral prejudice. Pakistan also pointed out that reforming the global financial architecture and trade regimes are essential in the wake of public disgust in international order, and supported the establishment of an SCO alternative development funding mechanism. That means local currencies of member states must become legal tender in international trade. In a subtle referral to counter-terrorism efforts, Islamabad endorsed reforms aimed at enhancing regional anti-terrorist structure, and opined that the true essence of SCO extends beyond political alliances and economic partnerships.

The call for a peaceful Afghanistan coincided with the concern for two flashpoints in the world, Gaza and Ukraine, urging the SCO members to reflect on the centrifugal crosscurrents of realpolitik. It was a good gesture, likewise, from Indian External Affairs Minister Dr Jaishankar to stress on the need for addressing challenges between neighbours through "honest dialogue and cooperation". China, Russia and CARs have undertaken such a path in their regional orientation, and the SCO forum can surely do a better job by cajoling India and Pakistan for a thaw, leading to their interlinking in connectivity.