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ISSN: 2692-5206, Impact Factor: 12,23
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RELATIONS OF INDIA, PAKISTAN AND CHINA
WITH THE CENTRAL ASIAN STATES IN THE SCO
Kasimov Mutalib,
"Federal State Budgetary Institution of Higher Education
"National Research University "MEI" Branch in Tashkent,
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in political science.
tel: +998909357643
Annotation:
This state speech is about the relations of India, Pakistan and China with the
Central Asian states within the SCO. The author, analyzing the relationship of these states in
the sphere of economy in the economics, and in the regional security, concludes that the Central
Asian countries are a «tasty morsel» for the «triangle» countries - India, Pakistan and China.
Key words:
organization, relationship, interrelation, politics, balance of power, economic
cooperation, regional security.
In the modern system of international relations, which is characterize by the dominance of
Western values and alliances, the Eurasian bloc of states is trying to achieve a “balance of
power” by expanding regional and interregional ties. Since its formation on June 15, 2001, the
Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has frequently organized meetings between the
leaders of Pakistan and India, but they have not led to concrete practical results. For the first
time in fifteen years, the SCO faced such a major expansion as the accession of nuclear powers
India and Pakistan (2017).
India expressed its desire to become part of the SCO back in 2005. Since then, it has
participated in the organization's events as an observer, and in 2015, simultaneously with
Pakistan's accession, the process of India's accession to the SCO began
. Over its ten years as
an observer, India has had varying degrees of interest in participating in the organization's
work
. This was expressed in the level of its representation at meetings of the Council of Heads
of State of the SCO Member States, as well as in the desire to apply for full membership in the
organization. India first applied in 2010, while its “opponent” Pakistan had already declared its
desire to become part of the SCO in 2006.
This move is due to the lack of opportunity to obtain real benefits from the organization's
work, as well as the SCO's long preparations for its expansion in connection with China's
hesitation regarding the admission of India. The number of observers to the organization has
grown over the years, but their role in decision-making has been formal. As a result, India has
expressed varying levels of interest in joining.
Behind India's current proactive stance lies a desire to pursue its own security and
economic interests. This conclusion emerges from a study of the country's main policy
directions and its interactions with other members of the organization, particularly China.
According to some foreign experts, relations between countries develop in accordance with the
1
На саммите ШОС утверждено решение о принятии в состав организации Индии и Пакистана // Официальный сайт
телеканала Russia Today. – 10.09.2015. – Режим доступа: https://russian.rt.com/article/102646#top.
2
Ушаков Ю. Банк развития БРИКС – вклад в укрепление мировой финансовой архитектуры : интервью телеканалу Russia
Today // Официальный сайт RT. – 07.06.2016. – Режим доступа: https://russian.rt.com/article/101811
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
ISSN: 2692-5206, Impact Factor: 12,23
American Academic publishers, volume 05, issue 07,2025
Journal:
https://www.academicpublishers.org/journals/index.php/ijai
page 25
influence that the international political system has on their interaction: through the formation
of an alliance, a balance of power, a balance of threats and a coincidence of interests to ensure
security
.
Since its founding, the SCO has concluded large-scale agreements in the fields of
economics, security, investment, energy and culture. Despite the fact that, due to the lack of
coordination among the participants, the implementation of individual agreements is extremely
slow and contradictory, the importance of the organization cannot be underestimated, if only
because of the membership of such powers as India and China.
The geographical space that the SCO covers is of great economic importance to India and
China. First of all, participation in the SCO will give a diplomatic boost to India's efforts to
build contacts with Central Asia, where our country, Uzbekistan, is located. This region is rich
in natural resources and minerals, but access to them is limited due to the lack of access to the
ocean by the Central Asian countries. Therefore, their trade depends on third countries and the
specifics of political regimes. States in close proximity to the region want to control access to
natural resources. Their success depends on finding reliable transport routes. The SCO can help
India achieve its energy interests. It is already looking to expand ties with Iran through the
construction of the Chabahar port and associated rail network. Indian Prime Minister Narendra
Modi and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani signed a contract worth more than $500 million in
May 2016
In addition, one cannot ignore India’s interest in implementing the CASA-1000, TAPI,
IPI and other projects, which will allow it to productively cooperate with the Central Asian
states in the field of economics and energy.
CASA-1000 is one of the largest energy network projects, which involves the creation of
an electricity market that unites the countries of Central and South Asia. Since 2016, Electric
Grids of India has been involved in consultations on this project, along with the world's largest
companies and banks. In addition, CASA-1000 can become a tool for regulating relations
between the states of Central and South Asia in accordance with their interests and needs.
Another project, called IPI, was supposed to be an energy corridor linking Iran, Pakistan
and India. But despite preliminary agreements being signed in 2005, it never got off the ground
due to disagreements over prices and tariffs. Today, the project is frozen, but India officially
supports it
India demonstrated its interest in strengthening relations with Central Asian countries
through N. Modi’s historic visit to five countries in the region in July 2015. A number of
economic agreements and initiatives were signed at that time, one of which was the TAPI
(Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India) pipeline
3
Waltz K.N. Theory of International Politics. – Addison-Wesley Publishing, 1979. – pp. 128-168.
4
India and Iran sign 'historic' Chabahar port deal // BBC News. – 18.08.2016. – Режим доступа:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-36356163
5
Project Focus: Iran-Pakistan-India Gas Pipeline // Gulf, Oil and Gas. – 12.06.2016. – Режим доступа:
http://www.gulfoilandgas.com/webpro1/projects/3dreport.asp?id=100730
6
Narayanan M.K. Putting out the West Asian fire // The Hindu. – 08.07.2016. – Режим доступа:
http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/prime-minister-narendra-modis-central-asia visit/article7396013.ece
356
Стратегия и
план работы (на 2016–2020 гг.) по региональному сотрудничеству в энергетическом секторе стран ЦАРЭС // Central Asia
Regional Economic Cooperation Program. – 2015. – 49 c.
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ISSN: 2692-5206, Impact Factor: 12,23
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Journal:
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page 26
However, despite the successes and the desire of the parties to implement the project, it is
accompanied by certain difficulties. Construction was supposed to begin in 2012, and it was
planned to be put into operation in 2016
. However, security concerns in Afghanistan and
disagreements among investors have delayed implementation.
The SCO's ties with India and Central Asian countries could draw attention to the TAPI
project and encourage states to participate in it, as well as propose other initiatives. There is
some opposition to the project in India itself, with many politicians and experts fearing that
Pakistan, by participating in the project, will gain advantage over India.
China's grandiose economic program OBOR (One Belt, One Road) deserves special
attention. China has invested 46 billion US dollars in the construction of another project, CPEC
(China-Pakistan Transport Corridor), and has allocated additional funds
.
This initiative would have had less negative connotations from India if the
communications did not concern the disputed territory in northwest Kashmir. Moreover, despite
China's claims that the corridor will not affect third-party interests, many projects envisaged
under OBOR and CPEC could intersect with India's economic and political interests and deepen
the conflict situation between the countries
Similarly, Central Asian countries view the OBOR and EAEU transport and investment
initiatives as having potential and the ability to transform the region into a major hub for
transcontinental transport networks.
As a member state of the SCO, India will not be able to remain aloof from China's
infrastructure projects. It will be an opportunity for it to develop a plan that will not only not
interfere with the functioning of the organization, but can also positively impact the country's
ambitions and economic advantages. Perhaps in this case, India may focus on expanding ties
with Russia and Iran, in particular within the framework of the construction of the INSTC
(International North-South Transport Corridor) route.
By expressing interest in Eurasian projects, India and China, on the one hand,
demonstrate their serious intentions in strengthening regional ties, and on the other, assert their
positions as global powers influencing global processes.
In the field of security, the SCO remains committed to the fight against the “three evils”:
terrorism, separatism and religious extremism
. In this regard, there is much scope for
cooperation between China, India and Pakistan, as they all suffer from terrorist attacks on their
territories that kill thousands of innocent people. India and Pakistan are keen to stay abreast of
counter-terrorism efforts in the region. India is also surrounded by countries with radical groups
7
Фараджи Рад Абдол Реза, Моради Г. Трубопровод TAPI и его влияние на региональное и международное соперничество
// Центральная Азия. – 2012. – №2. – Т. 15. – С. 94-111.
8
China's Xi Jinping agrees $46 bn superhighway to Pakistan // BBC News. – Режим доступа: URL:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-32377088 (accessed 11.05.2016).
9
Shrivastava Abhishek. How India can benefit from joining Shanghai Cooperation Organization // Daily Politics. – 15.08.2016. –
Режим доступа: http://www.dailyo.in/politics/shanghai-corporation-organisation-foreign-policynarendra-modi-central-asian-
republics-tashkent-terrorism-security/story/1/11346.html
10
Шанхайская конвенция о борьбе с терроризмом, сепаратизмом и экстремизмом : официальный сайт Министерства
иностранных дел Российской Федерации. – Режим доступа: URL:
http://www.mid.ru/foreign_policy/international_safety/crime//asset_publisher
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
ISSN: 2692-5206, Impact Factor: 12,23
American Academic publishers, volume 05, issue 07,2025
Journal:
https://www.academicpublishers.org/journals/index.php/ijai
page 27
(including Afghanistan and Pakistan), so it benefits from being part of an organisation that aims
to counter terrorism.
Terrorist threats are particularly high on the agenda due to the ongoing instability in
Afghanistan. The international terrorist organization Islamic State, in which militants from the
Taliban and Al-Qaeda play a significant role, is becoming increasingly widespread.
One aspect of the impact on China's policy is the situation in the Xinjiang Uyghur
Autonomous Region (XUAR) and its connection with the hot "Islamic spots" of Kashmir and
Afghanistan. The number of Uyghurs fighting in the ranks of the terrorist organization "Islamic
State" is growing
.
Beijing does not rule out the possibility that supporters of the "Independent Uyghur State"
based in Pakistan's North-West Frontier Province are receiving assistance from Western
countries and followers of radical Islam.
There is "insecurity" between Pakistan and Afghanistan, Afghanistan and the Central
Asian states. This is expressed in the fact that radicals in Afghanistan have weapons, and
personnel and transport from Pakistan flow there. The American AfPak project is not producing
the desired effect, and there is no proper dialogue and concepts for resolving the terrorist threat
in the border areas.
It can be concluded that the Chinese leadership is trying to neutralize the forces of
political Islam in XUAR. China's policy consists, on the one hand, of supporting Pakistan's
official position aimed at eliminating terrorist groups on its territory, and on the other hand, of
relying on its own strength to prevent a possible complication of the situation. This led to the
signing of a direct agreement between the problematic territories of China and Pakistan, aimed
at stabilizing the region.
Thus, Central Asia is part of the strategic interests of India, China and, to a lesser extent,
Pakistan. Full participation of India and Pakistan in the SCO will be aimed at improving the
situation in the economic and security spheres, as well as at forming the idea among the leaders
of the Central Asian states of India as a reliable partner ready for dialogue and cooperation.
References:
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Пакистана // Официальный сайт телеканала Russia Today. – 10.09.2015. – Режим
доступа: https://russian.rt.com/article/102646#top.
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архитектуры : интервью телеканалу Russia Today // Официальный сайт RT. –
07.06.2016. – Режим доступа: https://russian.rt.com/article/101811
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доступа:
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6. Project Focus: Iran-Pakistan-India Gas Pipeline // Gulf, Oil and Gas. – 12.06.2016. –
Режим доступа:
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Панкратенко И. Мятежный Синьцзян. Что хотят архитекторы войны? // ИА REGNUM. – 04.02.2015. – Режим доступа:
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INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
ISSN: 2692-5206, Impact Factor: 12,23
American Academic publishers, volume 05, issue 07,2025
Journal:
https://www.academicpublishers.org/journals/index.php/ijai
page 28
7. http://www.gulfoilandgas.com/webpro1/projects/3dreport.asp?id=100730
8. Narayanan M.K. Putting out the West Asian fire // The Hindu. – 08.07.2016. – Режим
доступа: http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/prime-minister-narendra-modis-central-
asia visit/article7396013.ece
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региональному сотрудничеству в энергетическом секторе стран ЦАРЭС // Central
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Т. 15. – С. 94-111.
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Organization
//
Daily
Politics.
–
15.08.2016.
–
Режим
доступа:
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modi-central-asian-republics-tashkent-terrorism-security/story/1/11346.html
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–
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–
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