Russia hails Pakistan’s SCO bid

[huzihaidao12]

That's a good point. As you said, the SCO is evolving and may be intended to be more than just an economic alliance.

Everything can change, just depends on the two points, own change and the change of environment. I think, look, there are some changes that support such a trend.

 

[Mo12]

I like how Pakistanis discredited BRICS military alliance credibility, but when they are about to join SCO, they talk about military when its a economy council. lol

This forum is just about to get on top of other nationality.

 

[Pakchina]

In fact US does not have allies but dogfollowers and clients for its weapons.

 

[TOPGUN]

Awsome news hope good comes out of for Pakistan as we need all we can get

 

[Abu Zolfiqar]

we cannot have peace in Pakistan when Afghanistan is in the usual disarray and horrible state of affairs that it is in.....and to promote peace in Afghanistan, we ought to work closer with the C.A.R.s and other regions in the area that matter and have some say -- Iran and Russia included.

we would like a stable Afghanistan so that it can be a sovereign country and so that we can treat it and look at it as one


as for Pakistan and Russia -- some people here seem to think that having relations with other countries is defined by how many weapons we can buy from them. In reality, there is much more to relationships than cash and guns. Wherever gains can be made, we should push for them. I think private sector in both countries are dynamic and strong, and they should ink partnerships where and when useful for both. That's what countries do.

 

[Mo12]

Members of SCO:

China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

Doesnt look good in military wise, as some Pak members are suggesting. Also offcial language of this group is Chinese and Russian according to wiki, once again to much credit to bigger nations.

SCO was primarily made for The Shanghai Five grouping was originally created April 26, 1996 with the signing of the Treaty on Deepening Military Trust in Border Regions in Shanghai

To be honest dont really understand the prestige of joining this group and why people are excited. And the name sounds hmm to dominating, why Shangai Organisation and not Asia Organisation instead?

 

[roadrunner]

To be honest dont really understand the prestige of joining this group

Mindset from 20 years ago. Ask the same question in 10 years again.

It will emerge as the most powerful Asian bloc.

 

[airuah]

china wants Pakistan to join while Russia wants India to join...and there has already been an invite by Russia for India to join as a full member....but India does not want to join...even though SCO is an economic pact rather than a strategic one....Russia will not accept Pakistan into SCO unless India is a member.....coz as some one here said relations go beyond ablity to buy weapons and armour....well with Russia we have both ....we supported it FROM ITS USSR days while staying non-alligned when Pakistan chose to side with USA for its short term gains......and funny thing is Pakistan still claims to be responsible for soviet collapse and they expect Russia to befriend it just because India its main military purchacer chose to diversify.....you should also note that India is still its major buyer.......

this close to russia sentiment is also seen in the mig 35 thread going on now.....the russians will not be able to equip their airforse with mig 35 because of its high cost ....if India had chose the Mig35 they would have been able to do so...since it would have become cheep (since we are buyng 126 aircrafts)....how much aircrafts can Pakistan buy? that is even if they sell ---20 -30 max....? is it economic for Russian airforce?to be logical....it would be safe to say....Mig35 is nomore....unless Russians want to induct it irrespective of the cost ......

besides SCO being a economic pact Membership of India is more valued than that of Pakistan's ....and India wont join it so Pakistan would not be able to do it.....it may hurt a little but it is the truth.....
for people who consider the SCO as a military pact...." a military one has a dedicated army and funds for it like the NATO" besides

 

[Mo12]

Mindset from 20 years ago. Ask the same question in 10 years again.

It will emerge as the most powerful Asian bloc.

Then again I think BRICS could be one of the most powerful blocks in the world, well has the potential anyway. As it will have 20% of world GDP in 5 years time.

As for SCO, you need to read the aims and objective on this organisation, "Treaty on Deepening Military Trust in Border Regions "

Also Afghanistan is partly in it too, in what is called, SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group

 

[roadrunner]

Then again I think BRICS could be one of the most powerful blocks in the world, well has the potential anyway. As it will have 20% of world GDP in 5 years time.

As for SCO, you need to read the aims and objective on this organisation, "Treaty on Deepening Military Trust in Border Regions "

Also Afghanistan is partly in it too, in what is called, SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group

I'm not saying Afghanistan isn't. In fact it would be pointless for SCO not to include Afghanistan. It gives a line from North to South.

BRICs is just something like the G8. I don't think it has military/security objectives, does it?

SCO does have military objectives which are defined as security within the SCO countries. So by this definition wouldn't an attack on one, be an attack on SCO?

 

[Obambam]

Russia to include Pakistan in the SCO puzzle — RT

Russia to include Pakistan in the SCO puzzle
Published: 13 May, 2011, 06:38

Quite unexpectedly, Russia has been pursuing closer ties with countries which have been seen entirely as US clients. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov just returned from an ice-breaking visit to Iraq, where different ideas for economic cooperation were discussed. And Russian President Dmitry Medvedev received his Pakistani counterpart, Asif Ali Zardari, with whom he discussed a range of economic issues, including cooperation in the energy sector (electricity and gas) as well as industrial projects. But the main declaration from the Moscow meeting was political and not economic. Medvedev publicly endorsed Pakistan’s claim to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). This is a remarkable move indicating a new stage in the organization’s development.

Russian-Pakistani relations have historically been frosty, but have improved recently. The additional intrigue surrounding Zardari’s Moscow meeting stemmed from the crisis in relations between Pakistan and its main patron, the US. Despite all differences in the past, rooted mainly in the experience from the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan in the 1980s, current Russian interest in Pakistan is tied to attempts to clarify the Afghan situation, which determines the atmosphere in Central Asia. For now it is becoming increasingly unpredictable. The US strategy is vague, the situation inside Afghanistan is unstable, and the possibility of coordinating efforts with neighboring states remains unclear.

Russia and neighboring countries are not interested in a quick US withdrawal, as it could lead to the Taliban’s return to power, or – probably even worse – chaotic civil war in the country with inevitable spillover into all bordering territories. Meanwhile, neighboring countries do not want US bases permanently stationed in Afghanistan either. Russia, China, India and Iran have all supported a “regional” solution, advocating in the middle-term a reliance on authorities in Kabul rather than on Western troops. The format of that solution is very vague. Zardari’s Moscow trip, made immediately after the strategic Chinese-Pakistani consultations in late April and Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi’s visit to Moscow last week, was expected to give a boost to the discussions.

One of Moscow’s ideas for a regional solution involves an enhanced role for the SCO, the most representative organization in the region. During the upcoming SCO summit in Astana in June, member states are expected to lift the unofficial moratorium on the admission of new members that was imposed in 2006. India and Pakistan are the most likely candidates. The possible admission of those two countries is a delicate issue because of their very tense bilateral relations. Until recently, Russia would have liked to see India become a full member, while China preferred Pakistan. Medvedev’s statement shows that Moscow’s position is actually changing in favor of Islamabad, while New Delhi’s endorsement remains. Indian nervous reaction is easy to predict, but it can be addressed by the Chinese lifting their objections to India’s membership.

The Afghan question is perceived as something that has the potential to unite the SCO member states. The interests of India and Pakistan in the region are unlikely to coincide, but a multilateral format could ease their bilateral tensions by introducing external factors. Besides, if relations between Pakistan and the US continue to deteriorate, Islamabad could be forced to be more active in diversifying its contacts.

To be frank, the US has good reason to mistrust its Asian partner, due to its very dubious commitment to fight terrorists. At the same time, the enormous complicity of Pakistani society must be taken into account – putting more pressure on Islamabad to force it to up the ante in its fight against the radicals might fatally destabilize the country and its government. The Pakistani leadership’s efforts to reduce external pressure by diversifying its international contacts have provoked ire in Washington, but it can be useful in order to restore a certain ability to govern in a very tricky region.

Fyodor Lukyanov, specially for RT

 

[r3alist]

Russia has responded favourably towards Pakistan in the Raymond Davis affair and us generally more warm.

This does not mean it's a game changer for the region but it could buy Pakistan some wriggle room, you play with the cards you been dealt right???

 

[sparklingway]

Must say that even though it is Russia that is warming up, necessitated by its desire to play a bigger role post US troop pullout from Afghanistan, kudos to the govt and FO for responding in the most warm way possible. Musharraf sat on Putin's invitation for a state visit for a long time, and we never warmed up to Russia. We have moved many miles since then.

 

[Paan Singh]

i wish india not to join any of this club upto atleast 10 yrs....neither nato nor sco..or any...

 

[IndianArmy]

i wish india not to join any of this club upto atleast 10 yrs....neither nato nor sco..or any...

I disagree, See.... SCO "RATS" is a Very Desirable Opportunity for Both India and other Asian Countries to Join together and Crack the Extremism and Terrorism Prevalent in the Sub Continent.... For Joining the SCO India Must shed its Egos, and Must trust Every Present and Possible future members , Other wise its not going to give any Fruitful result