India demands greater role in SCO
India has made vociferous demand for its full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, SCO.
It has demanded a larger role for itself in the security grouping in Afghanistan in the wake of the
withdrawal of US-led NATO troops from the war-ridden country. India is keen to play a major role in the
counter-terrorism structure of SCO to battle challenges of extremism by expanding cooperation b/w India
and the Regional Anti Terrorist Structure which is currently confined to members of SCO.
This is the 12th summit of Shanghai Cooperation Organization, SCO
Member States: China, Russia and Central Asian States of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.
Observer States: India, Pakistan, Mangolia and Iran. Afghanistan is the latest addendum in the list of Observer
States, added during current summit.
Dialogue Partners: Belarus and Sri Lanka.
In 2011, Russia had also favored the expansion of SCO: READ here
