The annual Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit proved an opportunity for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to engage in one of the less well-known aspects of these occasions, sideline summiteering. On Wednesday, his first engagement after arrival in Astana was a meeting with Russian President Valadimir Putin. It is worth noting that Mr Sharif’s previous meeting with Mr Putin was at the Samarkand Summit. Thus Mr Sharif has managed to engage with Mr Putin without either himself going on a bilateral visit, or without hosting him. There are two broad dimensions to the relationship with Russia: it is something China looks upon favourably, and it is something that makes India worried. Mr Sharif’s suggestion of increased trade, and a revival of barter, was designed to overcome US barriers to Russo-Pak trade because of the war in Ukraine, and shows once again Mr Sharif’s conviction that relationships depend on trade. It also showed something of the state of the 3conomy, M
His speech to the Summit itself expanded on this theme, and also touched on the crucial role China’s BRI was playing, and how regional terrorism had to be eliminated to ensure that all SCO members could become wealthy and prosperous. His remarks were also a reference to the original purpose of founding the SCO, which was to provide another option, apart from subservience to the USA, to provide security to a region affected by the Afghan conflict.
That conflict came up again, not just because of the Summit, but also because there was another round of talks on Afghanistan. Notice must have been taken in Astana of how these talks were attended by the Taliban government rather than civil-society organizations, and it must have been noted that the Taliban still came under withering criticism for their treatment of women. Mr Putin should realize his image problem, and China must also engage in soul-searching about the role it should be playing. Afghanistan should free itself mentally of all constraints, which will include abandoning positions more in line with cultural norms rather than the Quran and Sunnah. The countries at Doha seemed confused art how to deal with the Taliban. It is be hoped that the Astana Summit produces more clarity, so that the when it’s Pakistan’s turn to host the SCO Summit later this year, in October, this particulate matter can be sorted out. Afghanistan is a small country, but so centrally placed that the plans for the prospirity of the entire region depend on its being settled.
