SCO Membership and Pakistan: Prospects of Relations with Central Asia

Abstract

In June 2017, Pakistan gained the permanent membership of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in its 16th Heads of State Summit in Astana. As its permanent member, Pakistan hopes to attain immense support to address its economic, security and social issues. By sharing a membership with two major regional powers, Russia and China, in SCO, Pakistan sees itself an elevated contributor to the regional development. Moreover, full membership of the SCO has the potential to improve the image of Pakistan in the international arena. This paper is an endeavour to look into the potential benefits of SCO membership, as well as Pakistan’s relationship with the Central Asian Republics (CARs).