SCO Summit 2022.

Byline: Muhammad Asif Noor

The SCO Summit of Heads of the States 2022 has commenced today in the historic city of Samarkand with participation of heads of permanent member states including China, Uzbekistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan and India. The theme for this year's summit is "the world is coming to Samarkand". The Summit is focusing on traditional and nontraditional security and development threats that are looming large on the horizon including the fears of ongoing war and resultant global and regional implications in terms of food and energy crisis. As a largest gathering of the world leaders at one place, SCO Summit is providing an opportunity, especially, in the aftermath of the pandemic, to discuss the multilateral issues. The moots offers the leaders to meet on the sidelines to discuss bilateral matters. President Xi Jinping has arrived in Samarkand. This is his first international visit at such a grand gathering especially in the post pandemic period. While President Putin has also arrived in the historic city as his first global presence and meeting with the world leaders amid the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia.

The Summits of such kind offer opportunities for countries to build momentums in their relationships. Leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia will also be present despite both states currently facing another conflict and war on their borders. SCO face significant traditional security threats including the terrorism, separatism and religious extremism along with full scale wars. These three evils became the basis for the foundation of the SCO two decades ago in 2001. As the SCO celebrates its 20 years of existence, these threats are not far from over. Wars are brewing and causing havoc in the region. SCO meeting is significant to address such challenges. The issue of Afghanistan with its growing instability, economic challenges and growing human crisis, SCO has a huge role to play.

The incumbent government of Afghanistan was not invited to participate in the Summit based on the issue of its recognition and legitimacy to represent the people of Afghanistan. In the aftermath of US exodus from Afghanistan and the following instability, especially the hug refugee influx, SCO needs to address such human challenges. SCO Summit is expected to discuss and reach for consensus on devising strategies for growing non-traditional security threats including climate change induced disasters including...