SCO Bishkek Declaration: India’s Strategic Balancing Act Gets Tougher

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s 25th anniversary summit in Bishkek yielded a declaration that carries significant implications for India. The statement not only condemns terrorism but also explicitly references the Pahalgam terrorist attack, providing India with a stronger diplomatic platform to argue against the politicisation of terrorism.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized that terrorism is a grave threat to humanity and that states employing terrorism as a weapon should not be allowed to use it as a strategic asset.

The SCO’s declaration also highlights a contradiction, as it reaffirms the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity while simultaneously backing Iran in its conflict with the United States and Israel. The organization opposes unilateral coercive measures against Iran and supports its right to pursue peaceful nuclear energy under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

However, the declaration notably refrains from condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine, reflecting the broader political reality of the SCO being a coalition of countries with overlapping interests rather than a unified strategic alliance.

This diplomatic balancing act presents India with both an opportunity and a challenge. On one hand, the declaration allows India to maintain strong ties with the United States and Russia, while on the other hand, it puts India in a delicate position regarding its relations with Iran. India can endorse the general principle of sovereignty without becoming part of an anti-American bloc, allowing it to navigate its relationships with Washington, Moscow, and Tehran.

During the summit, Prime Minister Modi engaged in discussions with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. His dialogue with Putin focused on the India-Russia relationship, encompassing trade, energy, defence, and other strategic areas, while his conversation with the Iranian president emphasized India’s interests in the stability of the Gulf and freedom of navigation.

The meeting with Xi Jinping, although largely symbolic, demonstrated the continued possibility of communication between India and China, though substantive breakthroughs remain elusive.

Overall, the Bishkek Declaration provides India with a diplomatic framework to address its concerns over terrorism while maintaining its strategic partnerships with major powers, and offers an opportunity to strengthen India's position in Central Asia and the wider Eurasian region.