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30Original article. Politics studies УДК 327((470+571):549.1)
https://doi.org/10.31696/2227-5568-2022-01-068-076
RUSSIA AND PAKISTAN INTERACTION IN SCO FRAMEWORK Irina N. Serenko
Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, [email protected], https://orcid.org/0000-00024949-254X
Abstract. The article examines Russia and Pakistan bilateral relations in the multirateral framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. It is revealed, that Moscow and Islamabad had been considerably intensified their cooperation with Pakistan admission to SCO on the extensive support of Russia. Their cooperation has been gradually reaching a new level of mutually beneficial partnership
as a reflection of their involvement in the process of Eurasian integration. Keywords: Dushanbe Declaration, Eurasia, SCO, Pakistan, Russia
For citation: Serenko I. N. Russia and Pakistan Interaction in SCO Framework. Vostocnaa analitika = Eastern Analytics. 2022;13(1):68-76. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.31696/2227-5568-2022-01-068-076.
Научная статья. Политические науки
ВЗАИМОДЕЙСТВИЕ РОССИИ И ПАКИСТАНА В РАМКАХ ШОС
Ирина Николаевна Серенко
Институт востоковедения РАН, Москва, Россия, [email protected], https://orcid.org/0000-00024949-254X
Аннотация. В статье рассматриваются двусторонние отношения России и Пакистана в рамках Шанхайской организации сотрудничества (ШОС). Выявлено, что Москва и Исламабад значительно активизировали свое сотрудничество с принятием Пакистана в ШОС при широкой поддержке России. Сотрудничество двух государств постепенно выходит на новый уровень взаимовыгодного партнерства, что является отражением их вовлеченности в процесс евразийской интеграции.
Ключевые слова: Душанбинская декларация, Евразия, ШОС, Пакистан, Россия
Для цитирования: Serenko I. N. Russia and Pakistan Interaction in SCO Framework. Восточная аналитика. 2022;13(1):68-76. https://doi.org/10.31696/2227-5568-2022-01-068-076.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization which celebrated last year 20 years of its foundation is an excellent platform for the expanding and strengthening multilateral relations between the regional countries, as well as enhancing their bilateral ties, including Russia-Pakistan cooperation. Summing up SCO experience over the past twenty decades, one can not, but agree, that this Eurasian forum with its expansion proves to be an effective instrument for the peace and stability maintenance in the region and globally, promoting sustainable development and strengthening humanitarian and cultural cooperation in the vast space of SCO
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region. The Dushanbe Declaration on the SCO 20th Anniversary approved by the member-states during the 21st Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit may be considered as the SCO advanced Development Strategy (2015-2025). It defines the main priorities and guidelines of SCO further successful activities aimed at «transforming the region into a space of lasting peace and harmony»1.
The SCO Council of Heads of State was held in the Tajikistan capital on September 16-17, 2021, just a week after the Taliban announced the interim government in Afghanistan, which is the SCOs observer country neighboring with its member states. No wonder, that a key focus of this summit along with the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Outreach session was concentrated on the situation in Afghanistan. All the participants tried to reach coordination in urging the Taliban to move away from all terrorist groups and to work out joint plans and mechanisms on Afghanistan reconstruction after the hasty withdrawal of US-Western troops coalition. It led to the multiple regional threats connected with terrorism, drug abuse, refugee issue, etc. It is evident, that for the Eurasian SCO forum Central Asia remains the core of interests with its heart in Afghanistan. Actually, it needs to be emergently revitalized by the joint efforts of all interested regional actors, being «well aware that the developments in Afghanistan are directly projected to the security interests of the SCO member states»2 .
It should be mentioned that, on the sidelines of this Dushanbe SCO gathering the urgent need for provision of assistance to Afghanistan in order to overcome the growing humanitarian crisis with its negative impact on the regional security and economic situation was under the discussion between the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi. They also exchanged views on the entire range of bilateral relations and matters relating to the regional and global issues. Both of them underlined importance of furthering bilateral cooperation in different fields, as well as collaboration at the multilateral forums, including SCO3.
This stance to coordinate Moscow and Islamabad approaches to the Afghan issues both in the bilateral and multilateral frames by means of the SCO platform had been previously expressed in the telephone conversation between the Russian President Vladimir Putin and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan. It took place on August 25, 2021, ten days after Kabul takeover by the Taliban. While discussing
1 Dushanbe Declaration on the 20th Anniversary of the SCO. URL: http://eng.sectsco.org/ news/20210917/782639.html / (accessed: 27.01.2022).
2 Meeting of the SCO Heads of State Council President of Russia. URL: Meeting of the SCO Heads of State Council • President of Russia (kremlin.ru) (accessed: 27.01.2022).
3 Ties with Russia key priority for Pakistan, says foreign minister. URL: https://tribune.com.pk/ story/2320517/ties-with-russia-key-priority-for-pakistan-says-foreign-minister (accessed: 27.01.2022).
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the situation in Afghanistan, they stressed the importance of preventing violence in the country and establishing an inter-Afghan dialogue that would facilitate the formation of an «inclusive government», which would take into account interests of all groups and segments of Afghan population4.
It should be emphasize,that during the last few years Russia-Pakistan bilateral relations has been gradually reaching a new level of partnership and trust. It was a reflection of both states involvement in the undertaken formation of the Eurasia joint economic and security structure. Their progress in this direction seems to be facilitated by the coordinated implementation of the Russian integration project Eurasian Economic Union (EEU, 2015), which opens the prospects to create the Greater Eurasian Partnership (GEP, 2015), with the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative (BRI, 2016) and its flagship project of China-Pakistan economic corridor (CPEC, 2015)5. In fact, Pakistan-Russia bilateral cooperation within the SCO multilateral framework provides an opportunity for the gradual merge of the EEU and BRI projects.
Moreover, Russia and Pakistan seem to be the first in the row to practically implement the main points of Dushanbe Declaration on the SCO 20th Anniversary, so as to catch up for the lost opportunities to build their mutually beneficial relations on the bilateral and multilateral levels. They are determined by strategic interests of these regionally close states belonging to the biggest Eurasian continent. Actually, their SCO membership promoted intensification of Russia-Pakistan contacts at various levels and bilateral cooperation in all spheres, which were mentioned, in particular, in Dushanbe Declaration. That is (trade, transport, energy, industries and production, finance, investment, agriculture, customs, telecommunications, innovation, medicine, defense and humanitarian exchanges, especially among the young generation, etc.)6. These and other areas of mutual interests were bilaterally discussed within the framework of the 7th Session of the Russia-Pakistan Inter Government Commission (IGC) on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation, which was held on November 24-26 last year in Yekaterinburg (Russia)7.
It is not an exaggeration to say, that this new level of constructive bilateral cooperation and mutual trust between Russia and Pakistan has been foreseen by
4 Telephone conversation with Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan - President of Russia. URL: http:// en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/66461 (accessed: 27.01.2022).
5 Serenko I.N. Russia and Pakistan: Economic and Security Cooperation on Eurasian Integration. -Pakistan Horizon. Karachi: The Pakistan Institute of International Affairs. Volume 74. Numbers 2-3. April-July 2021. ISSN 0030-980X. P. 133-147.
6 Dushanbe Declaration on the 20th Anniversary of the SCO URL: http://eng.sectsco.org/news/ 20210917/782639.html (accessed 27.01.2022).
7 Olga Malik. Pakistan-Russia Gas Stream: Opportunities and Risks of New Flagship Energy Project URL: https://russiancouncil.ru/en/analytics-and-comments/columns/asian-kaleidoscope/pakistan-russia-gas-stream-opportunities-and-risks-of-new-flagship-energy-project/ (accessed: 28.01.2022).
an outstanding orientalist, actual founder of the Pakistani studies in USSR/Russia, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor Yu.V. Gankovsky (06.04.1921-07.09.2001). His 100th Birth Anniversary the academic community celebrated last year in Moscow at the Institute of Oriental Studies Russian Academy of Sciences8. He, in particular, was of the opinion, that due to the new Russia and Pakistan realities there was «the need to expand and strengthen Russia-Pakistan political, trade, economic, scientific and cultural ties», which «is not determined by situational considerations, but proceeds from the long-term vital state interests of the two coun-tries» with their regional closeness to each other9.
While facilitating practical implementation of the EEU-GEP initiative in conjunction with BRI-CPEC, the Russian Federation considers Pakistan as the main country to link the Eurasian Economic Union with Asia, the Indian Ocean region and far beyond. This naturally promotes the enhancement of Pakistan strategic role in connectivity with Russia through the GEP10. The successful implementation of all the planned joint projects, including the flagship one on Pakistan Stream gas pipeline construction or proposed Trans-Afghan Railway, demands improvement in the regional security of the Central and South Asia. Pakistan is viewed by Russia as one of the main players in stabilizing the regional situation and restoring peace in Afghanistan through the national reconciliation process by implementing the dialogue policy, including bilateral contacts with Moscow or «SCO- Afghanistan» Contact Group and «Extended Troyka» format. It is worth mentioning, that with Pakistan joining the SCO as a full-fledged member the organizationss borders with Afghanistan were noticeably expanded and the SCO role in the Afghan conflict settlement was considerably increased. Pakistan significance in this peace process is determined, according to the Russian ambassador to Pakistan A.Y. Dedov (2013-2019), «by its role in regional politics, its influence in the Muslim world, and its geostrategic position»11.
Moreover, Russia has recently intensified cooperation with Pakistan in the field of combating terrorism by arranging since 2016 several joint military exercises called «Friendship» (in Russian - «Druzhba») on a regular base, equipping the anti-terrorist Pakistani units with helicopters and demonstrating them some Russian modern weapons which Islamabad can buy in the future. The last joint
8 Conference on the problems of History and Modern Development of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Turkey and Ethnic Kurdistan (to Professor Yu.V. Gankovsky's 100th Birth Anniversary) on the 5th April, 2021. URL: Новости науки (ivran.ru) (accessed: 28.01.2022).
9 Serenko I.N. On Yu.V. Gankovsky's Contribution to the National and World Pakistani Studies (To the 100th Anniversary). - Journal of the Institute of Oriental Studies RAS. - Moscow: IOS RAS, No. 2 (16), 2021 (in Russian). P. 230.
10 Vladimir Morozov. Pakistan's Role in Russia's Greater Eurasian Partenership. URL: https:// russiancouncil.ru/en/analytics-and-comments/analytics/pakistan-s-role-in-russia-s-greater-eurasian-partnership/ (accessed: 28.01.2022).
11 Dedov A.Y. Russia's Stabilizing Role in South Asia. - Pakistan Horizon. - Karachi: The Pakistan Institute of International Affairs. Volume 72. Number 1. January 2019. - P. 6.
two-week-long drills were held on the territory of Krasnodar region (Russia) from September 28 till October 9, 202112. The next one traditionally will take place in the fall of this year, but on the territory of Pakistan13.
Pakistan is among other SCO member states, including neighboring India, who signed in 2017 the Convention on combating extremism and banning the terrorist and extremist groups. Both neighboring countries had already positive experience of participating together in the multinational counter-terror exercises, including «Peace Mission» under the SCO aegis aimed on strengthening security in Eurasia. This can be achieved by fighting terrorism and expanding defense cooperation among the all member states. The last one joint military anti-terrorist command and staff exercise of the SCO member states armed forces involved nearly 4 thousand troops and 600 units of armament and military equipment. This army drills were held at the Donguz training ground in the Orenburg region of Russia on September 11-25, 202114. It is remarkable, that both Pakistani and Indian soldiers professionally and on people-to-people level had a chance to act and communicate together with their other colleagues from SCO member countries. It gives some hope for a peaceful future in the unstable Central and South Asian region.
The spectacular growth of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization which unites eight countries with a population of over 3.5 billion people and its practical contribution to the global process of a new, more representative and just world order building transformed SCO into an independent center of political influence and dynamic economic development integrated in the emerging multipolar system. It seems that such challenges as the earliest settlement of the crisis situation in Afghanistan or reducing tension in the relations between India and Pakistan, which both joined SCO as full-fledged members in 2017, can be gradually overcome by joint efforts of all its member states under the central coordinating role of the UN.
Actually, with the admission of Pakistan to SCO due to the extensive support of Moscow, Russia-Pakistan bilateral relations have been noticeably intensified. At the same time, Pakistan facilitated Russia entry into the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). Such interaction between the two countries meets their common interests to maintain regional security and stability for the economic development. Russia is also interested in reducing the existing tension between Pakistan
12 A joint Russian-Pakistani exercise of special forces units Druzhba-2021 has started in Kuban: Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation. URL: https://eng.mil.ru/en/news_page/country/more. htm?id=12385968@egNews (accessed: 28.01.2022).
13 A series of military exercises of Russia, India, Egypt and Pakistan will be held in the fall. URL: https:// vpk.name/en/571063_a-series-of-military-exercises-of-russia-india-egypt-and-pakistan-will-be-held-in-the-fall.html (accessed: 29.01.2022).
14 More than 4 thousand military personnel of the SCO member states will take part in the exercise Peace Mission-2021 in the Orenburg region: Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation. URL: https:// eng.mil.ru/en/news_page/country/more.htm?id=12372383@egNews (accessed: 29.01.2022).
and India which prevents economic development and stability not only in South Asia, but on a larger scale of SCO member states space.
It should be noted, that Moscow has developed longstanding, time-tested friendly partnership relations with India, as it is evident by the Russian President Vladimir Putin visit on December 6, 2021 to New Delhi. By pursuing a balanced foreign policy in South Asia, Russia is also committed to develop strategic long-term bilateral relations with Pakistan. It may be illustrated by the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov diplomatic first ever two-stop visit to both India and Pakistan in April 2021. Actually, Russia is ready to play its role in bringing these two largest South Asian states closer towards each other for the promotion of regional stability and connectivity. Moscow had such a mediation experience in the past. One can recall the famous Tashkent Declaration, signed on January 10, 1966. It helped to improve relations between these two neighboring countries, even though the resulting peace lasted not long15.
Contemporary deterioration of Pakistan-India relations seems to start much earlier than after New-Delhi canceled Kashmir special status on August 19, 2019. It looks to happen after the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi refused to attend the preplanned summit of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) in Islamabad in November 2016. This decision, it can be assumed, resulted in the practical collapse of this regional intergovernmental organization of eight South Asian countries. By the way, while participating on January 6, 2022 in the international webinar on «Pakistan-Russia Strategic Relations», the author of this article pointed out, that Russia is interested in the regional peace for the economic growth and stability, and thus solving the Kashmir problem between India and Pakistan in a dialogue format, not excluding compromise options on the bilateral and multilateral levels of the SCO platform, which provides options for good-neighborly cooperation of its member countries16.
The Russian and Pakistani participants of this international webinar, organized by the Strategic Vision Institute (SVI, Islamabad), discussed a wide range of issues on the current trends in bilateral relations between the Russian Federation and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in the realities of an unstable situation in the Central and South Asia region. They stressed the need for joint efforts of Russia and Pakistan on a bilateral and multilateral basis, using the capabilities of international organizations such as the SCO, OIC, UN, etc., to overcome the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, ensure regional security and stability in order to implement numerous integration projects aimed at achieving sustainable economic development of the Eurasian states. The Russian and Pakistani dip-
15 Belokrenitsky V.Y., Moskalenko V.N. A Political History of Pakistan, 1947-2007. - Karachi: Oxford University Press, 2013. P. 184-185.
16 SVI International Webinar - Pakistan-Russia Strategic Relations - 6th January 2022. URL: https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFRmXku3k1o (accessed: 29.01.2022).
lomats, scholars and experts came to the shared conclusion that «enhanced economic cooperation between Islamabad and Moscow can lay the foundation for a robust strategic engagement between the two countries without being affected by the Indian factor»17.
In fact, this international webinar took place a few days before the first National Security Policy in the history of Pakistan (NSP 2022-2026) was publicly unveiled by Prime Minister Imran Khan on January 14, 2022 (though it was approved by the government on December 28, 2021). It has broadened the traditional security concept by bringing into the center of it the economic stability and human development, in order to gain geostrategic benefits from the geoeconom-icsdvidends. Pakistan considers domestic stability and regional peace based on mutual co-existence, regional connectivity and shared prosperity as an essential condition for optimising national security. An important place in NSP has been assigned to the construction of Pakistan-Russia multidimensional partnership in the context of the regional integration accounting the Russia historically immense influence in Central Asia18. Besides, it is evident, that, their sharing SCO permanent membership also contributes much for further consolidation of the regional economic development, humanitarian collaboration and security19.
The ongoing intensification of Pakistan-Russia relations may be illustrated by the Pakistani six-member delegation visit to Moscow on December 1, 2021 on the invitation of the Secretary of the Russia Security Council Nikolai Patrushev. It was headed by the National Security Advisor of Pakistan Moeed Yusuf, who was the main contributor to NSP. The important issues of mutual interests, including economic, energy, and defense cooperation as well, as counter-terrorism, counter-narcotics joint efforts, information and cyber security were under the two sides discussion. While analyzing regional and international matters they expressed concern over the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan and proposed some practical steps to avert it20. Such a wide range of the bilateral negotiations agenda reflects the identical approach of Moscow and Islamabad in their security vision with the strategy shift from the traditional security to economics and human development. Thus, the top national interests in the updated National Security Strategy of the Russian Federation (2021) and the first ever National Security Policy of Pakistan (2022) are on priority connected with the human security and welfare of their citizens.
17 Shafqat Ali. Pakistan, Russia can lay foundation for strategic engagement: Speakers. URL: https:// nation.com.pk/11-Jan-2022/pakistan-russia-can-lay-foundation-for-strategic-engagement-speakers (accessed: 29.01.2022).
18 National Security Policy of Pakistan 2022-2026. URL: NSP2022-2026.pdf (accessed: 30.01.2022).
19 Mir Sherbaz Khetran. SCO Membership and Pakistan: Prospects of Relations with Central Asia. - Strategic Studies. - Islamabad: Institute of Strategic Studies. Volume 39. N 21. Summer 2019. - Pp. 83-95.
20 NSA holds talks with Russian counterpart. URL: https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/913433-nsa-holds-talks-with-russian-counterpart (accessed: 29.01.2022).
It is not excluded, that the maiden visit of the Russian President Vladimir Putin to Pakistan was also under the both sides discussion. The information about his official landmark visit at the end of this year for the inauguration of the groundbreaking of the multibillion dollar Pakistan Stream Gas Pipeline project has been recently leaked to the media21. The formal invitation to Vladimir Putin was reiterated by the Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan during their last telephone conversation on January 17, 2022. The two leaders agreed to enhance the bilateral cooperation in different spheres, increase high-level exchanges and remain in close contact on matters relating to Afghanistan22. Both of them are also expected to meet in February this year on the sidelines of the Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Beijing where Imran Khan plans personally to extend the invitation to the Russian President. All the above said facts correlates with the Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi statement, that both countries are moving ahead with the identical approach and «Pakistan-Russia relations have been on a positive trajectory»23.
In conclusion, it should be once again emphasized, that the growth of bilateral interaction between Russia and Pakistan may be considered as a by-product of the regional integration taking place on the vast and quickly developing Eurasian landmass. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization proved to be a useful instrument of multilateral interaction. And let us hope, that the process of its growing effectiveness would continue. This will be definitely good for the relations between Pakistan and Russia which are both interested in the Eurasian integration enhancement for the attainment of regional security and sustainable development of all belonging to it countries.
Литература / References
1. Belokrenitsky V.Y., Moskalenko V.N. A Political History of Pakistan, 1947-2007. -Karachi: Oxford University Press, 2013. — 497 p.
2. Dedov A.Y. Russias Stabilizing Role in South Asia. - Pakistan Horizon. - Karachi: The Pakistan Institute of International Affairs. Volume 72. Number 1. January 2019. - P. 1-9.
3. Khetran Mir Sherbaz. SCO Membership and Pakistan: Prospects of Relations with Central Asia. - Strategic Studies. - Islamabad: Institute of Strategic Studies. Volume 39. No. 21. Summer 2019. - P. 83-95.
21 Kamran Yousaf. Islamabad, Moscow in talks for maiden Putin visit. URL: https://tribune.com.pk/ story/2340103/islamabad-moscow-in-talks-for-maiden-putin-visit (accessed: 30.01.2022).
22 In telephone call, PM Imran thanks Putin for 'emphatic' statement against insulting Holy Prophet (PBUH). URL: https://www.dawn.com/news/1669975/in-telephone-call-pm-imran-thanks-putin-for-emphatic-statement-against-insulting-holy-prophet-pbuh (accessed: 30.01.2022).
23 Pakistan, Russia moving ahead with identical approach: FM URL: https://nation.com.pk/19-Jan-2022/ pakistan-russia-moving-ahead-with-identical-approach-fm (accessed: 30.01.2022).
4. Serenko I.N. Russia and Pakistan: Economic and Security Cooperation on Eurasian Integration. - Pakistan Horizon. - Karachi: The Pakistan Institute of International Affairs. Volume 74. Numbers 2-3. April-July 2021. - P. 133-147.
5. Serenko I.N. On Yu.V. Gankovskys Contribution to the National and World Pakistani Studies (To the 100th Anniversary). - Journal of the Institute of Oriental Studies RAS. - Moscow: IOS RAS, No. 2 (16), 2021 (in Russian). - P. 224-233.
ИНФОРМАЦИЯ ОБ АВТОРАХ / INFORMATION ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Серенко Ирина Николаевна -
канд. пед. наук, старший научный сотрудник Центра изучения стран Ближнего и Среднего Востока, Институт востоковедения Российской академии наук, Москва, Россия
Serenko Irina N. - Cand. Sci. (Pedag.), Senior Research Fellow, Center for the Study of the Middle East,Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Science, Moscow, Russian Federation
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Автор заявляeт об отсутствии конфликта интересов.
Информация о статье
Поступила в редакцию: 31 января 2022. Одобрена после рецензирования: 7 февраля 2022. Принята к публикации: 9 февраля 2022. Опубликована: 29 марта 2022.
Автор прочитал и одобрил окончательный вариант рукописи.
Conflicts of Interest Disclosure
The author declares that there is no conflict of interest. Article info
Submitted: January 31, 2022. Approved after peer reviewing: February 7, 2022. Accepted for publication: February 9, 2022. Published: March 29, 2022.
The author has read and approved the final manuscript.
