SCO's Afghan lens

The SCO took a high moral stand as it called for an inclusive government in Afghanistan. The 10-member security and economic group censured the reclusive government in Kabul for failing to abide by its 2020 Doha commitments, and for acting as a safe haven for terror outfits. A resolution passed on the occasion clearly demonstrated that the SCO is conscious of the terror threat emanating from the Southwest Asian state, which has the potential to jeopardise transnational corridors built for the common good of the region's three billion citizens.

The Bishkek declaration went on to address Afghanistan as a hub of war, terrorism and drugs, while reaffirming its commitment to peace prospects and development in the war-torn country. This astuteness on the part of the multilateral group (of which Afghanistan remains an observer) to call out Kabul shows growing maturity and a courage to proverbially take the bull by the horns. The way forward for all member states is to prevail upon the Taliban regime in Kabul to abide by the collective wisdom of the regional group by shunning radicalism.

Pakistan, as the new chairperson of the SCO, led from the front in convincing the bloc that diplomacy is the only viable path forward. It also highlighted its diplomatic mediation successes. This strategy apparently cornered India, as evidenced by the body language of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose policy of self-styled hegemony has led the country into regional isolation. Furthermore, Pakistan added another feather to its cap when Lahore was named the SCO Tourism and Cultural Capital, providing a strong impetus to its efforts toward transnational networking.

The SCO is an emerging reality as the unipolar world slides toward multilateralism. BRICS and the Global South are other key components rising to challenge the US-led world order. The fact that SCO states refused to give in to the unilateral economic coercive measures of Washington is a signature development, one that will go a long way in contesting the post-Bretton Woods order. The SCO's focus on counterterrorism and geopolitical inclusivity must find dividends under Islamabad's leadership.