India to become member of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)

India is set to become a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) — a Eurasian alliance widely seen as a counter to the America-led Nato — this month, soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi gets back from his June 7-8 US visit.

Along with India, Pakistan will be accepted as a member of the grouping that comprises China, Kazakhstan, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Besides the six members, the SCO counts Afghanistan, Iran, Mongolia and Belarus as observer countries while Turkey, Azerbaijan, Sri Lanka, Armenia, Cambodia and Nepal are dialogue partners. 

The SCO — a strategically important political, economic and military organisation — has a geographic sweep stretching from the Indian Ocean to the Persian Gulf.
“The SCO envisages a wide range of cooperation, including closer military and security cooperation among members.