Member States Deem Terrorism as Major Threat
"The fact is that there is a structure called Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) under the SCO framework, which means that everybody in the grouping recognizes terror as a major threat," Asthana told Sputnik on Wednesday.
"If they were not, then an organisation like RATS would not have come into existence. Plus, it's a common problem for SCO states, no central Asian nation is immune to the threat of the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM)*. Similarly, Pakistan also faces a threat from Tehreek-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP)*," Asthana asserted.
The defense expert noted that almost every SCO member nation was up against the danger of terrorism. The Central European Region (CER) and East European countries also face this threat from radicalized groups emanating from Afghanistan.
"Hence everybody has their own problems of terrorism and that recognition of the problem is certainly there," Asthana concluded.
"As far as the matter of terrorism between India and Pakistan is concerned, I think, it looks like both countries have accepted that terrorism is a threat. Even in the Delhi declaration, you could see both the countries used a particular language, condemning terror in all its forms," Sachdeva clarified, speaking to Sputnik.
Doubts Over Practical Cooperation
"SCO member states have a shared interest in ensuring peace and stability in the region, which is a precondition for economic development anywhere in the world," Sharif stated in the SCO's virtual conference hosted by India on Tuesday.