• Dr. Hamid Hussain

Shanghai Cooperation Organization-SCO had its 24th Summit at Tianjin port city in China on 31 Oct and 1st Sept 2025, at the backdrop of USA’s tariff war, terrorist attacks in Pahalgaon, Operation-Sindoor and Trump dictated Indo-Pak ceasefire, Israeli misadventure in Gaza, Israel-Iran air attacks on each other and cease-fire and Russia-Ukraine ongoing war. The major players in the summit were China, India, Iran and Russia. With global profile of Pakistan increased after Operation-Sindoor with aids pouring in from IMF and Asian Development Bank, defence deal with Russia, investment of three billion dollars promised by Qatar, China’s implicit support to Pakistan etc., Pakistan’s PM Shahbaz Sharif was a participant with equivalent red-carpet welcome with PM Modi. India became an observer in SCO during Dr Manmohan Singh in 2005 and its full member in 2017 along with Pakistan in Samarkand in summit. PM Modi attended the summit. Azerbaijan and Turkey who supported Pakistan during Op-Sindoor were dialogue Partners in the summit.

India’s Approach And Failings

In regard to SCO, certain lacunae in India’s approach are vivid. When Presidentship was with India in 2023, India preferred a virtual summit meeting. Had it convened real summit meeting with the presence of all heads of the governments of member and partner countries at Delhi, it would not only have enhanced its international image, but also would have helped enlargement of its trade relations. It also could have got a strong resolution passed on cross-border terrorism.

Astana declaration in 2024 was most remarkable in SCO history. It adopted the resolution against terrorism and sponsoring terrorism. PM Narendra Modi was conspicuous by his absence in this vital meeting. We lost a vital opportunity. Now SCO’s importance is felt due to tariff issue with US and China’s satellite and electronic support to Pakistan in Operation-Sindoor. PM Modi attended Tianjin Summit now along with all other heads of govts. But Russian and Chinese Heads of govts did not attend G-20 when held at Delhi in 2024. This is a reflection of India’s diplomatic failing and China’s diplomatic acumen.

Further, in October 2024, Islamabad hosted Council of Head of Govt. (CHG) summit meeting of SCO countries in which Shri S Jaishankar participated. In the sideline, there was a meeting with Mr. Dar, the Pakistani Foreign Affairs Minister in which ironically only agreement reached was the resumption of Indo-Pak cricket match.

Again, there is a forum in it called RATS- Regional Anti-terrorist strategy, which India could have helped promote, emphasize on and taken the lead in it. We failed to do that. Further, we proposed for emphasis on start-ups and environment issues during our Presidentship. But back home, our start-ups are failing and on environmental issues our track record is not adequate. Then comes the most vital failing. China plays a crucial role in SCO. Its headquarter is in Beijing. But the Presidentship is rotational. Russia, China and Iran are its vital members. With their active presence, China cannot have unilateral dominance as all members are equal and there are powerful members in it. Non-involvement and lack of effective participation at appropriate level have allowed China’s dominant role in it, as it is leading in multi-lateral power play.

India failed in its Presidentship of SCO in 2023 to make a mark, while China used the platform of Tianjin Summit to strengthen bilateral relationship, trade expansion and strategic relationship with 25 participant countries. This must be seen in the light of China’s strategic designs, developing corridors with others, expansion of borders and trade dominance etc. China undoubtedly is emerging as the leader of third world countries, as India is losing leadership space to China on this account due to lack of effective role of India in global and regional organizations.

Outcome of Tianjin SCO Summit

The SCO Summit called for sustainable development, strengthening of global south amid global uncertainties, condemned Pahalgaon and Jafar express train terrorist attacks respectively in India and Pakistan, opposed unilateral coercive measures of economic nature President Xi Ping in his Presidential address condemned bullying behaviour (referring to USA) in international politics and trade. On Israel - Iran conflicts, it condemned the US and Israel air strike in Iran, especially on its nuclear installations and favoured lifting of sanction on Iran. A strong resolution on Israel’s bombing civilian habitats in Gaza and causing thousands of deaths was passed. It called for a just solution to the Palestine issue. The SCO decided to have a SCO Development Bank at Beijing. Some vital points that concern India are as under:

(a) All Nations except India supported Chinese proposition to have Chinese belt and road initiative along its border. (b) PM Narendra Modi raised Pahalgaon issue. Pahalgaon terrorist attack was condemned in the resolution but it also included Jafar train attack of Pakistan as well. (c) On photo session also India and Pakistan were positioned equidistant — at third positions on the right and left from the centre respectively. India has to do a lot of thinking on this. (d) The summit was followed by Victory Day Parade in China marking Chinese victory over Japan in second world war. Almost all SCO participant countries’ Heads of governments, numbering twenty-five, attended the parade. PM Modi did not attend the same, possibly due to its close relations with Japan and China’s occupation of Indian territory. It’s neighbours - Nepal, Pakistan and Maldives - marked their presence along with Russian President Vladimir Putin and King Kim John Un. President Erdogan of Turkey and PM Shahbaz Sharif too were present in the occasion, marking Pakistan’s presence in Parade day of USA through Field Marshal Munir and Parade day of China through PM Shahbaz Sharif.

Side- Line Bilateral Talk With China

Much hype was created on President Putin and President Jinping meeting with PM Modi. So did Shahbaz Sharif, President Erdogan and others. Each one met the other on the sideline except PMs of India and Pakistan. The meetings need to be judged by the outcome. For instance, how India has successfully engaged China should be seen from the following – 1. How the meeting is going to help adverse balance of payment, as our export to China is only 15 billion US dollars as against whooping import of 113 billion US dollars. 2. Whether China is willing to sort out bilateral border issues and vacate 18 Indian military posts in Ladakh and return to previous line of control. And also, whether China is willing to vacate 2000 sq kms of Chinese occupied land of India in Arunachal Pradesh, as claimed by BJP MP Shri Tapir Gao. 3. Whether China will stop arming Pakistan and stop giving satellite support in case of bilateral combat with Pakistan. 4. Will China stop making settlements in occupied Indian areas. On all these counts no progress seem forthcoming. The boundary disputes - Ladakh region, middle sector- Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim region and Arunachal Pradesh - are core to our strained relations. Another important issue is the proposed dam in Brahmaputra river by China for which technical and capacity details are not provided to India. As far as boundary disputes are concerned in 2005, an agreement was reached to deal the issue as a package. The agreement was reached after lot of persuasion by India. Now there seem some deviation as India is agreeable to settle Sikkim issue first as per Chinese proposal. This will weaken the position in Ladakh and Arunachal region which are most vital.

Ukraine Issue

Media coverage that President Zelensky phoned PM Modi is going the round. It may be remembered that Zelensky insulted Modiji when he visited Ukraine. He said Modi is more interested than Putin for cease fire. This ironical rhetoric did find much mention in international media. In fact, the visit was a double loss. It was not liked by Russia, as it always considered India as a strategic partner. The resultant effect was that on military engagement with Pakistan, Russia did not support India during Op-Sindoor. In fact, not a single country supported India despite relentless World tours of Prime Minister Modi. Ukraine gave verbal support to Pakistan and said it is against one country attacking the other. China, Turkey and Azerbaijan supported Pakistan. Not a single neighboring country also came in our support as we have spoiled relations with everyone. Zelensky raised issues with leaders like President Erdogan of Turkey who had earlier initiated mediation at Istanbul and PM Modi to impress upon a resolution on Russia-Ukraine issue. But no mention of it is found in a long speech of the PM.

India’s International Image Need To Be Re-Established

Over the years, since PM Modi took over Premiership, India is losing its international stature. When PM Modi goes to USA, he is being received by a Mayor of the city. Nehru Ji was received by Presidents - Truman and Kenedy in 1952 and 1961 respectively. Not even a minister comes to receive PM Modi whenever he visits the USA. When he went to inaugurate yoga day at UN Headquarter, UN Secretary General did not attend. When he went to France in 2004, at the same time European Union passed a resolution against the Indian Govt. handling the Manipur issue. Barrack Obama whom the PM considers a friend, opined that intolerance has increased in India, reflecting the world view of the Modi regime.

President Trump dictating PM Modi to have cease -fire caused nose - diving of India’s reputation. President Trump in a Press Conference with PM Modi talked about imposing a higher tariff on India and the Quad being virtually dead, PM Modi kept quiet. Neighbours have become hostile, due to faulty foreign policy.

India led NAM. Ever since Modiji took over, there is no effort to activate it. It was a forum to reckon with. India has to have a dynamic foreign policy as was during various leaders Nehru Ji, Indira Gandhi Ji, Rajiv Gandhi Ji and even Bajpayee Ji and Dr Manmohan Singh.

China undoubtedly is emerging as the leader of third-world countries, as India is losing leadership space to China on this account due to lack of effective role of India in global and regional organizations. India failed in its Presidentship of SCO in 2023 to make a mark, while China used the platform of Tianjin Summit to strengthen bilateral relationship, trade expansion and strategic relationship with 25 participant countries. That shows growing image and impact of China on global geo-politics. China’s emerging leadership of third-world countries is attributable to India’s foreign policy failings of a decade.

This calls for going back to the basics- adherence to basic postulates of our foreign policy followed by all the previous Premiers. These are- unwavering principles of anti- colonialism and neo- colonialism, anti- racism and discrimination in any form; clear stands against aggression, unipolar or bipolar world order, interference in internal affairs of other countries, hegemony and territorial expansion; support for UN, New International Economic Order, causes of Third-World countries, multi-polar world order and strengthening Non -Aligned Movement. It should also raise voice against unfair trade practice by the west, especially USA in contravention with UN Charter and established Principles of World Trade Organization. It had attached great importance to its relations with African and east Asian countries which stand diluted.

In all these basic principles, there is some deviation, for which we have lost our space, image and profile to some extent. There was a strong strategic relations with Russia and we stood by each other in all eventualities. But it is no more so as exposed in Operation-Sindoor. Its pro-Israeli posture is also incompatible with our age-old stand of support for a viable Palestine State. This has damaged our image of a voice against aggression and occupation of others’ territories. It also needs to shed its image to change its course of foreign policy discourse by third-party intervention or dictation, like the Trump claimed credit on cease-fire between India and Pakistan. The govt. will do well by effective course correction to regain its global image and glory.

The author is an AICC Media Panelist, and author on International Relations.