The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a Eurasian political, economic, and security alliance that was founded in June 2001. It comprises eight member states, including India and Pakistan. Recently, India withdrew Pakistan’s invite to SCO meet, leading to increased tensions between the two countries.
India Withdraws Pakistan’s Invite to SCO Meet
India has withdrawn Pakistan’s invitation to participate in the upcoming meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) heads of government, citing the "current COVID-19 situation" as the reason. India’s decision has led to a souring of ties between the two countries; Islamabad has called New Delhi’s move "unfortunate and regrettable."
This is not the first time that India has withdrawn Pakistan’s invite to an international meeting. In 2019, India had refused to invite Pakistan for the BRICS summit, citing the country’s support for cross-border terrorism.
Tensions between India and Pakistan Lead to SCO Snub
Tensions between India and Pakistan have been on the rise since the revocation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019. Pakistan has been vocal in its criticism of India’s move, and has repeatedly raised the issue at international forums. India, on the other hand, has accused Pakistan of supporting cross-border terrorism.
The latest snub by India has led to a further strain in relations between the two countries. Pakistan has called India’s move an attempt to "sabotage" the SCO platform, and has accused New Delhi of "politicising" the regional grouping.
In conclusion, India’s decision to withdraw Pakistan’s invite to the SCO meet has added to the already tense relations between the two countries. While India has cited the COVID-19 situation as the reason for its move, it is evident that the underlying issue is the ongoing tensions between the two nations. The SCO was formed to promote regional cooperation and peace, and it is unfortunate that political differences continue to hamper its efforts.