SCO’s RATS Meeting

In Context

• A three-day meeting is held under the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s (SCO) Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS).

Major Agenda of the Meeting

• Discussions on the situation in Afghanistan, especially in dealing with the threat from terrorist groups active in the Taliban-ruled country.
• India has expressed desire to strengthen its security cooperation with the SCO.

SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) 

• About: It is a permanent body of SCO. It aims to counter extremism, terrorism, and separatism in the region. Its headquarters is in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
  • India assumed chairmanship of the RATS SCO on October 28, 21

Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)

• About:
  • It is a permanent intergovernmental international organisation of Eurasian Nations with a secretariat in Beijing.
• Aim:
  • It is a political, economic and military organisation that aims at maintaining peace, security and stability in the region.
• Origin: Journey from Shanghai Five to SCO 
  • Shanghai Five emerged in 1996 from a series of border demarcation and demilitarization talks between 4 former USSR republics and China.
  • Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan were members of the Shanghai Five.
  • With the accession of Uzbekistan to the group in 2001, the Shanghai Five was renamed the SCO.
  • The SCO Charter was signed in 2002 and entered into force in 2003.
• Inclusion of India & Pakistan:
  • India and Pakistan both were initially observer states.
  • Both were given full membership in 2017.
• Members:
  • Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India, and Pakistan.
  • Recently, Iran’s bid to become a full member of the SCO has been approved.

• Language: 
  • The SCO’s official languages are Russian and Chinese.
• Structure:  SCO Secretariat in Beijing & Executive committee in Tashkent.

Importance of SCO for India

• Help in achieving regional integration, promote connectivity & stability
• Improving security by intelligence sharing, law enforcement and developing best practices.
• It provides India with an opportunity to pursue the “Connect Central Asian Policy”.
• Platform to put forward India’s concerns

Source: TH