The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), a key Eurasian grouping, is increasingly strained by intra-member conflicts, particularly India-China and India-Pakistan tensions. These frictions hamper its consensus-based functioning. In this context, India plays a vital role in steering the SCO towards cooperation and constructive engagement.

Virus of Conflict in the SCO: Key Challenges

1. India-China Border Tensions:

   • The Galwan Valley clash (2020) and subsequent military standoff have strained bilateral relations.
   • Resulted in reduced trust and limited cooperation within the SCO security framework.

2. India-Pakistan Hostilities:

   • Pakistan’s sponsorship of cross-border terrorism and its attempts to internationalize bilateral issues like Kashmir undermine the SCO’s non-interference principle.
   • Acrimonious exchanges in SCO meetings have politicized the platform.

3. Diverging Interests of Major Players:

   • Russia-China axis dominates the agenda, while India often resists China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) which is endorsed by other members.
   • Central Asian states seek neutrality and development, but are caught in great power rivalries.

4. Lack of Institutional Cohesion:

   • Absence of strong dispute resolution mechanisms.
   • Differences on counter-terrorism definitions and priorities hinder RATS (Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure) effectiveness.

5. Russia-West Rivalry Shifting SCO’s Strategic Focus:

   • Russia’s confrontation with the West post-Ukraine war has pushed it closer to China, altering the internal power dynamics of the SCO.
   • This alignment weakens the SCO’s independent decision-making capacity and reduces space for consensus-building.
   • Example: SCO statements on international crises (e.g. Ukraine) remain neutral or vague due to internal divisions.

6. Diverging Approaches to Afghanistan:

   • SCO members differ sharply on dealing with the Taliban regime post-US withdrawal.
   • China and Pakistan advocate engagement for stability, whereas India and some Central Asian states demand an inclusive government and guarantees against terrorism.
   • This divergence has prevented the formulation of a coherent regional strategy on Afghanistan.

Role of India in Mitigating SCO Conflicts

India has played a constructive and multi-pronged role in countering the conflicts and enhancing cooperative spirit within SCO:

1. Upholding Principles of Sovereignty and Non-Interference

• India consistently asserts that bilateral disputes must not vitiate multilateral forums.
• Refused to endorse BRI due to its violation of sovereignty through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), but still participates constructively.

2. Promoting Connectivity and Development sans Hegemony

• Advocates transparent, rules-based connectivity respecting national sovereignty.
• Highlighted initiatives like Chabahar Port and International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) as alternatives to Chinese infrastructure dominance.

3. Fostering Anti-Terror Cooperation

• India emphasizes zero tolerance for terrorism in all forms, especially state-sponsored terrorism.
• Hosted the RATS meeting in Delhi (2022), stressing need for common definitions and action against terror financing.

4. Cultural and Soft Power Diplomacy

• India leverages civilizational linkages with Central Asia through Buddhism, trade, and diaspora.
• Organised SCO Startup Forum and Film Festival, projecting soft diplomacy and people-to-people ties.

5. Strategic Balancing

• India’s multi-alignment policy balances Russia and Central Asian interests without endorsing China-led hegemony.
• Advocates for multipolar Asia and counters Chinese dominance diplomatically.

6. Hosting SCO Presidency (2023)

• As SCO Chair in 2023, India:
  • Hosted over 140 meetings and events under its presidency.
  • Focused on digital inclusion, startups, and cooperation in agriculture, culture, and education.
  • Excluded Pakistan from SCO Film Festival due to concerns over extremism narratives.

Way Forward: Enhancing India’s Role

1. Promote Neutral Platforms for dialogue between adversaries like India-Pakistan and India-China.
2. Strengthen economic cooperation in energy, pharmaceuticals, and IT with Central Asia.
3. Lead efforts to reform SCO structures to include crisis management mechanisms.
4. Build coalitions with like-minded members (e.g., Russia, Central Asian Republics) to counterbalance Chinese overreach.

India’s principled engagement within the SCO, despite underlying conflicts, reflects its commitment to regional stability, counterterrorism, and multipolarity. In a conflict-prone multilateral body, India's balanced diplomacy, economic initiatives, and normative leadership can help mitigate tensions and make SCO a more effective regional forum.