India has taken a calculated risk by joining the six nation Eurasian security and economic grouping, the China and Russia-led Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with Pakistan premier Nawaz Sharif, was welcomed in Astana, Kazakhstan, on June 9 as the SCO formalised the entry of its two newest members.
On the surface, India’s long-held quest to join an essentially anti-western grouping, featuring several authoritarian and energy-rich Central Asian nations, is somewhat puzzling. India’s relations with Washington are growing ever closer, while China casts a long shadow over the group.
In Delhi’s calculus, India’s presence in Eurasia’s premier security grouping will both enhance its strategic presence in a region where it has largely failed to pull its weight, and also mobilise global support against terror.
This story is from the June 26, 2017 edition of India Today.
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This story is from the June 26, 2017 edition of India Today.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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