THE message coming out from Bishkek-hosted Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit rings louder in multiple contexts not only for the Western world but also the member-nations of the grouping. It was about setting limits to excesses in all forms by any entity failing which every country is free to defend is sovereignty and autonomy with its own methods. While the SCO summit signalled to the United States to impose checks on its military and financial recklessness, there were also clear hints to the disruptive elements within the grouping that pursuing illegal policies against neighbours will have consequences. While the SCO nations opened a clear broadside against US sanctions with the Bishkek Declaration opposing unilateral coercive measures violating international law and harming global food and energy security, Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi sent out a clear warning to Pakistan to shun its State policy of backing terrorism and stop double standards on the serious issue.

 

Mr. Modi’s swipe at Pakistan was made in presence of Pak Prime Minister Mr. Shehbaz Sharif, who also tried to take a dig at India over the Indus Water Treaty suspension but found no backers. Mr. Modi’s call to unitedly dismantle terror ecosystem found resonance among the members and it was reflected in the Declaration which took up terrorism as a major problem to deal with without any compromise. Mr. Modi’s message to Pakistan with Mr. Sharif in the room comes with a loaded meaning. He reminded the members about the pain India is still feeling after the dastardly terror attack in Pahalgam last year which killed 26 innocent Hindus. It led to Operation Sindoor and Pakistan is still licking wounds of the destruction caused by Indian missiles and drones.

 

The PM had already warned that the Operation is still on and if Pakistan indulged in any further mischief, it would have to pay a heavy price. In this light, Mr. Modi’s mention of “countries that use terrorism as an instrument of policy and provide safe haven and support to terrorists” was a signal to China that India would go to any extent in case of further provocation by its all-weather friend through terror proxies. Another takeaway of the Bishkek summit was the willingness of Russia, India and China to take ahead their cooperation in face of growing imperialism by the United States. The three top powers in the EurAsian region were on the same page on majority of points in the Bishkek Declaration as India, as well as Pakistan, joined Russia, China and the other SCO nations in tacitly condemning Israel and the United States over the military strikes on Iran. Apart from criticising the US sanctions as unilateral coercive measures, the tacit condemnation of US-Israel military strikes delivers a powerful response from India, Russia and China as they take it ahead into the BRICS summit later this month in India.

 

The SCO Declaration has, in fact, added a special perspective to the BRICS meeting now to be keenly watched by the United States and Europe. Already, US President Mr. Donald Trump has expressed his wariness over the bonding of the BRICS nations. With India leading the bloc with a clear understanding of universal brotherhood, Mr. Trump perceives it as an attempt by the South Asian countries to raise a united front against the dollar. While the BRICS is yet to speak formally on having a common currency on lines of the Euro, time is right to make some noise over its possibility. It is imperative for the BRICS members to carry the SCO confidence into the September 12-13 meeting to send out another message to Washington. The sidelines of the SCO summit also had a lot to tell as markers of the future. India’s engagement with the Central Asian countries was the highlight of New Delhi’s diplomatic outreach to seek partners having abundant material needed for future sectors. India has already signed a comprehensive strategic deal with Uzbekistan which opens doors for getting uranium. It is a major gain for India’s policy of diversification as it seeks to strengthen it nuclear energy capacities.