The government believes that its participation in the exercise, an SCO event, will in no way undermine its position that Pakistan continues to promote cross-border terrorism. India’s presence, however, will be seen as a sign of the importance it attaches to the Central Asia-focused regional bloc’s role in security-related issues, particularly in Afghanistan.
With Iran also joining the group, which includes RussiaAs a full member of India, China, Pakistan and 4 Central Asian countries, the SCO can play an important role in efforts for a political and diplomatic solution to the situation in Afghanistan.
India was apparently the last country to confirm its participation in the exercise, announced in March this year after the council meeting of the RATS in Tashkent. In line with the SCO protocol, Pakistan had invited all member-states, including India, for the exercise, which does not involve troops and is aimed at identifying and suppressing channels that finance terrorist activities. India is likely to be represented in the exercise by officials from the National Security Council Secretariat.
The SCO Dushanbe Declaration earlier this month reaffirmed the “special role” of the SCO RATS in the joint fight against terrorism, separatism and extremism to ensure regional security. It had also said that the member-states would continue to conduct joint counter-terrorism exercises, including the upcoming Pabbi anti-terrorism exercise 2021.
Addressing the SCO summit on Afghanistan in Dushanbe, PM Narendra Modi had said that the government formed by the Taliban was not inclusive and asked the international community not to be in a hurry to recognize it. Calling for a free Afghanistan from terrorism and narcotics, the declaration states that all member states believe it is necessary to have an inclusive government in Afghanistan, consisting of representatives of all ethnic, religious and political groups in Afghan society. be.
The SCO exercise will take place at a time when India-Pakistan relations are going from bad to worse despite a ceasefire agreement reached between the two sides in February this year. The Indian Army has accused Pakistani commanders of infiltrating Jammu and Kashmir last month and earlier this week the Army detained a Pakistani terrorist after an encounter in the Uri sector of the Line of Control.
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